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Antic vs Merry - What's the difference?

antic | merry | Related terms |

Antic is a related term of merry.


As an adjective antic

is ancient.

As a proper noun merry is

originally a nickname for a merry person.

antic

English

Alternative forms

* antick

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (architecture, arts) Grotesque, incongruous.
  • *
  • Grotesque, bizarre; absurd.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture, arts, obsolete) A grotesque representation of a figure; a gargoyle.
  • A caricature.
  • (often in plural) A ludicrous gesture or act; ridiculous behaviour.
  • * Wordsworth
  • And fraught with antics as the Indian bird / That writhes and chatters in her wiry cage.
  • * 1953 , John Christopher, Blemish
  • I saw the barren horror of your people's leisure with the million entertained by the antics of a tiny few
  • * 2007 , , Time To Add A Cute Kid To The Cast Questionable Content Number 951
  • Pintsize: Wait, don’t you want to know why I’m tied up and hanging from the ceiling? / Faye: Not really. Nighty night! / Pintsize: Shit! My wacky antics have jumped the shark!
  • A grotesque performer or clown.
  • *
  • A pose, often exaggerated, in anticipation of an action; for example, a brief squat before jumping
  • Verb

  • To perform antics.
  • *
  • (obsolete) To make a fool of, to cause to look ridiculous.
  • * , Act II, Scene VII:
  • Gentle lords, let's part; / You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb / Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue / Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost / Antick'd us all.
  • (rare) To perform (an action) as an antic; to mimic ridiculously.
  • * 1931 , William Faulkner, Sanctuary , Vintage 1993, page 70:
  • She unfastened her dress, her arms arched thin and high, her shadow anticking her movements.
  • To make appear like a buffoon.
  • (Shakespeare)

    References

    * OED 2nd edition 1989 * *

    Anagrams

    * *

    References

    ----

    merry

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Jolly and full of high spirits
  • We had a very merry Christmas.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
  • Festive and full of fun and laughter
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
  • f I have the chance, I will make our worshipful Sheriff pay right well for that which he hath done to me. Maybe I may bring him some time into Sherwood Forest and have him to a right merry feast with us.
    Everyone was merry at the party.
  • Brisk
  • The play moved along at a merry pace.
  • Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight.
  • a merry jest
  • * Spenser
  • merry wind and weather
  • (euphemistic) drunk; tipsy
  • Some of us got a little merry at the office Christmas party.

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete) mery

    Derived terms

    * Merry Christmas * Merry Eid

    Synonyms

    * happy * gay * content * joyful * cheerful * pleased * exultant * ecstatic * jovial

    Antonyms

    * miserable * unhappy

    Derived terms

    * merrier * merrily * merriment