antic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
    caper; joke; trick; put-on; prank.
  2. verb act as or like a clown
    clown around; clown.
  3. adjective satellite ludicrously odd
    fantastic; grotesque; fantastical.
    • Hamlet's assumed antic disposition
    • fantastic Halloween costumes
    • a grotesque reflection in the mirror

WordNet

An"tic adjective
Etymology
The same word as antique; cf. It. antico ancient. See Antique.
Definitions
  1. Old; antique. (Zoöl.) "Lords of antic fame." Phaer.
  2. Odd; fantastic; fanciful; grotesque; ludicrous.
    The antic postures of a merry-andrew. Addison.
    The Saxons . . . worshiped many idols, barbarous in name, some monstrous, all antic for shape. Fuller.
An"tic noun
Definitions
  1. A buffoon or merry-andrew; one that practices odd gesticulations; the Fool of the old play.
  2. An odd imagery, device, or tracery; a fantastic figure.
    Woven with antics and wild imagery. Spenser.
  3. A grotesque trick; a piece of buffoonery; a caper.
    And fraught with antics as the Indian bird That writhes and chatters in her wiry cage. Wordsworth.
  4. (Arch.) A grotesque representation. Obs.
  5. An antimask. Obs. or R.
    Performed by knights and ladies of his court In nature of an antic. Ford.
An"tic transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Anticked Antickt
Definitions
  1. To make appear like a buffoon. Obs. Shak.
An"tic intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To perform antics.

Webster 1913