Etymograph

English

antic

Antic may come from Italian antico ‘ancient’.

  1. Italianc. 1300–presentantico1‘ancient’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1591–1595antic1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English antic
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet: “Fetch me my Rapier Boy, what dares the ſlaue…”.

Earlier history uncertain. See Wiktionary.

Lineage

  1. Italianc. 1300–presentanticoWiktionary, English antic‘ancient’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1591–1595anticWiktionary, English antic. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet: “Fetch me my Rapier Boy, what dares the ſlaue…”

The story

Probably from Italian antico (‘ancient’), used to describe ancient wall paintings from classical times, from Latin antiquus (‘venerable’).

Full etymology on Wiktionary

Linked words

through Latin antiquus ‘venerable’

antique, antiquity, antiquary, 4 more

Today it means

adj Playful, funny, absurd.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “antic”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Italian antico / antic

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