Main Entry:

¹gro·tesque

Pronunciation:

\grō-ˈtesk\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French, from Old Italian (pittura) grottesca, literally, cave painting, feminine of grottesco of a cave, from grotta

Date:

1561

1 a: a style of decorative art characterized by fanciful or fantastic human and animal forms often interwoven with foliage or similar figures that may distort the natural into absurdity, ugliness, or caricature b: a piece of work in this style2: one that is grotesque3: sans serif