I. grō-ˈtesk noun
Etymology: Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French, from Old Italian ( pittura ) grottesca, literally, cave painting, feminine of grottesco of a cave, from grotta
Date: 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
II. adjective
Date: 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
Synonyms: see fantastic
• gro·tesque·ly adverb
• gro·tesque·ness noun