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View synonyms for antic

antic

[ an-tik ]

noun

  1. Usually antics.
    1. a playful trick or prank; caper.
    2. a grotesque, fantastic, or ludicrous gesture, act, or posture.
  2. Archaic.
    1. an actor in a grotesque or ridiculous presentation.
    2. a buffoon; clown.
  3. Obsolete.
    1. a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.
    2. a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.


adjective

  1. ludicrous; funny.
  2. fantastic; odd; grotesque:

    an antic disposition.

verb (used without object)

, an·ticked, an·tick·ing.
  1. Obsolete. to perform antics; caper.

antic

/ ˈæntɪk /

noun

  1. archaic.
    an actor in a ludicrous or grotesque part; clown; buffoon


adjective

  1. archaic.
    fantastic; grotesque

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Other Words From

  • anti·cal·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of antic1

1520–30; earlier antike, antique < Italian antico ancient (< Latin antīcus, antīquus; antique ), apparently taken to mean “grotesque,” as used in descriptions of fantastic figures found in Roman ruins

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Word History and Origins

Origin of antic1

C16: from Italian antico something ancient, or grotesque (from its application to fantastic carvings found in ruins of ancient Rome); see antique

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Example Sentences

Berlusconi repeated the antic in the afternoon in the lower house of Parliament, this time to jeers from fellow politicians.

It was antic, manic, magical, and mischievous—and thoroughly British.

It has been left to Michael Moore, in his usual antic, flawed way, to enact a theatrical liberal insurgency.

The novel has the antic pace and madcap humor of a Hollywood-ready screenplay— Meet the Parents meets Garden State or something.

At British festivals our predecessors used to antic in the guise of a bull, and the bull-headed actor was entitled “The Broad”.

If a discovery in science is announced, he will execute you an antic upon it before it gets fairly cold.

I gritted my teeth at him, danced up and down, screaming an incoherent mockery and making antic faces.

Nor need one necessarily play an absurd antic to be natural.

Her laugh, at some clumsy antic of Leonidas or some word of mine, rang again and again through the solitude of our hiding place.

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