Antic

Pronunciation

• enPR: ăn'tÄ­k, IPA: /ˈæntɪk/
• Rhymes: -æntɪk

Alternative forms

• antick

Origin

Probably from Italian antico ("ancient, fanciful") (used to describe ancient wall paintings from classical times) from Latin antiquus ("venerable")

Funk, W. J., Word origins and their romantic stories, New York, Wilfred Funk, Inc.

. See also grottesco ("grotesque").

Full definition of antic

Adjective

1. (architecture, arts) Grotesque, incongruous.
• 2004, John Chase, Glitter Stucco and Dumpster Diving: Reflections on Building Production in the Vernacular city, The amusement park environment of seaside resorts such as Venice and the antic eclecticism of Greene & Greene's pre-Craftsman work all preceded the establishment of the movie colony in Hollywood.
2. Grotesque, bizarre; absurd.
• 1865, w, Cape Cod, a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces, with a countenance more antic than any in a Dutch droll.
• 1599-1601, w:William Shakespeare, w, As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
  To put an antic disposition on.
• 1591-1595, w:William Shakespeare, w, Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave
  Come hither, cover'd with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
3. Obsolete form of antique

Related terms

Noun

1. (architecture, arts, obsolete) A grotesque representation of a figure; a gargoyle.
2. A caricature.
3. (often in plural) A ludicrous gesture or act; ridiculous behaviour.
• WordsworthAnd fraught with antics as the Indian bird
  That writhes and chatters in her wiry cage.
• 1953, John Christopher, BlemishI saw the barren horror of your people's leisure with the million entertained by the antics of a tiny few...
• 2007, Jeph Jacques, Time To Add A Cute Kid To The Cast Questionable Content Number 951Pintsize: Wait, don’t you want to know why I’m tied up and hanging from the ceiling?
  Faye: Not really. Nighty night!
  Pintsize: Shit! My wacky antics have jumped the shark!
4. A grotesque performer or clown.
• 1978, Walter C. Foreman, The Music of the Close: The Final Scenes of Shakespeare's Tragedies, The Grave-maker, like the professional fools and Falstaff, and like Hamlet himself, is an antic, a grotesque, one who demonstrates to men how foolish and
5. (animation, from "anticipation") A pose, often exaggerated, in anticipation of an action; for example, a brief squat before jumping

Verb

1. (intransitive) To perform antics.
• 1917, Jack London, Jerry of the Islands, Jerry no more than cocked a contemptuous quizzical eye at the mainsail anticking above him. He knew already the empty windiness of its threats,
2. (obsolete) To make a fool of, to cause to look ridiculous.
• circa 1603–1607 William Shakespeare, , Act II, Scene VII:Gentle lords, let's part;
  You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
  Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
  Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
  Antick'd us all.
3. (transitive, rare) To perform (an action) as an antic; to mimic ridiculously.
• 1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Vintage 1993, page 70:She unfastened her dress, her arms arched thin and high, her shadow anticking her movements.
4. (transitive) To make appear like a buffoon.

Anagrams

• actin
• can it