ANTIC


Meaning of ANTIC in English

— antically , adv.

/an"tik/ , n., adj., v., anticked, anticking .

n.

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. Obs.

a. a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.

b. a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.

adj.

4. ludicrous; funny.

5. fantastic; odd; grotesque: an antic disposition.

v.i.

6. Obs. to perform antics; caper.

[ 1520-30; earlier antike, antique antico ancient ( anticus, antiquus; see ANTIQUE), appar. taken to mean "grotesque," as used in descriptions of fantastic figures found in Roman ruins ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .