adj. & n.
--adj.
1. comically or repulsively distorted; monstrous, unnatural.
2 incongruous, ludicrous, absurd.
--n.
1. a decorative form interweaving human and animal features.
2 a comically distorted figure or design.
3 Printing a family of sanserif typefaces.
Derivatives:
grotesquely adv. grotesqueness n. grotesquerie n.
Etymology: earlier crotesque f. F crotesque f. It. grottesca grotto-like (painting etc.) fem. of grottesco (as GROTTO, -ESQUE)