[gro.tesque] n [MF & OIt; MF, fr. OIt (pittura) grottesca, lit., cave painting, fem. of grottesco of a cave, fr. grotta] (1561) 1 a: a style of decorative art characterized by fanciful or fantastic human and animal forms often interwoven with foliage or similar figures that may distort the natural into absurdity, ugliness, or caricature b: a piece of work in this style
2: one that is grotesque
3: sans serif
[2]grotesque adj (1603): of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the grotesque: as a: fanciful, bizarre b: absurdly incongruous c: departing markedly from the natural, the expected, or the typical syn see fantastic -- gro.tesque.ly adv -- gro.tesque.ness n