antic

[an-tik] /ˈæn tɪk/
noun
1.
Usually, antics.
  1. a playful trick or prank; caper.
  2. a grotesque, fantastic, or ludicrous gesture, act, or posture.
2.
Archaic.
  1. an actor in a grotesque or ridiculous presentation.
  2. a buffoon; clown.
3.
Obsolete.
  1. a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.
  2. a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.
adjective
4.
ludicrous; funny.
5.
fantastic; odd; grotesque:
an antic disposition.
verb (used without object), anticked, anticking.
6.
Obsolete. to perform antics; caper.
Origin
1520-30; earlier antike, antique < Italian antico ancient (< Latin antīcus, antīquus; see antique), apparently taken to mean “grotesque,” as used in descriptions of fantastic figures found in Roman ruins
Related forms
antically, adverb
Can be confused
antic, antique.
Examples from the web for antics
  • He has managed to avoid teenage antics in residence halls, since.
  • By contrast, those studying the proteome have been self-effacing, which is why the news is not full of their antics.
  • Between the courtroom antics of lawyers, witnesses and jurors, reason doesn't always prevail in our legal system.
  • Secular believers and nonbelievers had better understand their antics and resolve.
  • One big no-no is damaging the brand with playboy antics.
  • The antics of the cubs and the show of affection by the lionesses was amazing to watch up close.
  • The group moves rapidly through a slew of creative antics.
  • My usual antics of having them write about the material for discussion use is not working.
  • Their antics set the treetops in motion, shaking and swaying along the shore as if they had sprung to life.
  • The idea was that you'd draw attention to yourself with your outrage and your outrageous antics.
British Dictionary definitions for antics

antics

/ˈæntɪks/
plural noun
1.
absurd or grotesque acts or postures

antic

/ˈæntɪk/
noun
1.
(archaic) an actor in a ludicrous or grotesque part; clown; buffoon
adjective
2.
(archaic) fantastic; grotesque
See also antics
Word Origin
C16: from Italian antico something ancient, or grotesque (from its application to fantastic carvings found in ruins of ancient Rome); see antique
Word Origin and History for antics
n.

"ludicrous behavior," 1520s; see antic.

antic

n.

1520s, "grotesque or comical gesture," from Italian antico "antique," from Latin antiquus "old" (see antique). Originally (like grotesque) a 16c. Italian word referring to the strange and fantastic representations on ancient murals unearthed around Rome (especially originally the Baths of Titus, rediscovered 16c.); later extended to "any bizarre thing or behavior," in which sense it first arrived in English. As an adjective in English from 1580s, "grotesque, bizarre."