antic
UK: ˈæntɪk | US: ˈæntɪk
n. A playful or silly act; a prank or caper.
adj. Grotesque or absurd in appearance or behavior; bizarre.
(archaic) adj. Fantastic or whimsical in style (e.g., "antic figures in art").
The word "antic" traces back to the Italian antico, meaning "ancient," derived from Latin antiquus. Originally, it referred to grotesque or fantastical designs in ancient Roman art. By the 16th century, it evolved to describe absurd or exaggerated behavior, likely because such art depicted distorted figures. The modern sense of "playful prank" emerged from the association of absurdity with humor.
The clown’s antic gestures had the audience laughing uncontrollably.
She decorated her room with antic masks from Venetian carnivals.
His antic behavior during the meeting was highly unprofessional.
The play featured a series of ludicrous antics by the main character.
Medieval manuscripts often include antic drawings in the margins.