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antic

 - 3 dictionary results

an⋅tic

  [an-tik] noun, adjective, verb, -ticked, -tick⋅ing.
–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.
Use antic in a Sentence
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. 2010.
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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Word Origin & History

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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