Word a Day
grotesque
What does grotesque mean?
grotesque (adjective): distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal, especially in a hideous way.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use grotesque in a sentence?
- Tales of grotesque serpents eight fathoms long that churned the seas. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
How do you pronounce grotesque?
/ɡɹoʊˈtɛsk/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does grotesque come from?
Borrowed from Middle French grotesque, from Italian grottesco, from grotta (“cave”) + -esco (relational suffix).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “grotesque”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “grotesque” mean?
of speech or writing, communicative through the use of as few words as possible
Not quite: that's what laconic means.
enjoying or affording comforting warmth and shelter especially in a small space
Not quite: that's what cozy means.
occurring or appearing irregularly from time to time, but not often; incidental
Not quite: that's what occasional means.
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal, especially in a hideous way
Right! That's what “grotesque” means.
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