antic
UK[ˈæntɪk]US[ˈæntɪk]
adj
(of behavior) Playful, funny, and silly, especially in a way that is old-fashioned.
n
A playful, silly, or funny act or piece of behavior.
Etymology
The word 'antic' entered English in the early 16th century from the Italian 'antico', which meant 'ancient' or 'grotesque'. This Italian term was a shortening of 'grottesco antico', referring to the strange, fanciful paintings and decorations discovered in the ancient (antico) ruins of Roman buildings, which were then called 'grottesche' (grotesques). The semantic journey from 'ancient' to 'playfully absurd' is vivid: the bizarre, playful figures found in these ancient artworks came to be associated with the kind of ludicrous, exaggerated behavior performed by clowns and jesters. Thus, the modern sense of 'antic' evolved from the visual spectacle of ancient grotesques to describe any intentionally odd, playful, or silly performance or mannerism.
Analysis
The word 'antic' is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Italian 'antico', meaning 'ancient' or 'grotesque', which itself derives from Latin 'antiquus' (ancient, old). Its functional role in English is as a complete lexical unit.
Examples
The children were in an antic mood, pretending to be pirates and jumping on the furniture.
The clown's antics had the entire audience roaring with laughter.
His writing is known for its antic humor and surreal situations.