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antic - 7 dictionary results

an⋅tic

  [an-tik] noun, adjective, verb, -ticked, -tick⋅ing.
Use antic in a Sentence
–noun
1. Usually, antics.
a. a playful trick or prank; caper.
b. a grotesque, fantastic, or ludicrous gesture, act, or posture.
2. Archaic.
a. an actor in a grotesque or ridiculous presentation.
b. a buffoon; clown.
3. Obsolete.
a. a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.
b. a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.
–adjective
4. ludicrous; funny.
5. fantastic; odd; grotesque: an antic disposition.
–verb (used without object)
6. Obsolete. to perform antics; caper.
Origin:
1520–30; earlier antike, antique < It antico ancient (< L antīcus, antīquus; see antique ), appar. taken to mean “grotesque,” as used in descriptions of fantastic figures found in Roman ruins

Related forms:
an⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To antic
an·tic   (ān'tĭk)   
n.  
  1. A ludicrous or extravagant act or gesture; a caper.
  2. Archaic A buffoon, especially a performing clown.
adj.  Ludicrously odd; fantastic.

[From Italian antico, ancient (used of grotesque designs on some ancient Roman artifacts), from Latin antīquus, former, old; see ant- in Indo-European roots.]
an'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Antic

An"tic\, a. [The same word as antique; cf. It. antico ancient. See Antique.]

1. Old; antique. (Zo["o]l.) "Lords of antic fame." --Phaer.

2. Odd; fantastic; fanciful; grotesque; ludicrous.

The antic postures of a merry-andrew. --Addison.

The Saxons . . . worshiped many idols, barbarous in name, some monstrous, all antic for shape. --Fuller.

Antic

An"tic\, n. 1. A buffoon or merry-andrew; one that practices odd gesticulations; the Fool of the old play.

2. An odd imagery, device, or tracery; a fantastic figure.

Woven with antics and wild imagery. --Spenser.

3. A grotesque trick; a piece of buffoonery; a caper.

And fraught with antics as the Indian bird That writhes and chatters in her wiry cage. --Wordsworth.

4. (Arch.) A grotesque representation. [Obs.]

5. An antimask. [Obs. or R.]

Performed by knights and ladies of his court In nature of an antic. --Ford.

Antic

An"tic\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anticked, Antickt.] To make appear like a buffoon. [Obs.] --Shak.

Antic

An"tic\, v. i. To perform antics.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : antic
Spanish: antiguo,
German: alt,
Japanese: 古代の
More Translations »

antic 
1529, from It. antico "antique," from L. antiquus (see antique). Originally (like grotesque) referring to the strange and fantastic representations on ancient murals unearthed around Rome, later extended to anything bizarre.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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