English

Adjective

grotesque ‎(comparative grotesquer, superlative grotesquest)

1. distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
2. disgusting or otherwise viscerally reviling.
3. (typography) sans serif.

Derived terms

• grody
• grotty

Translations

Noun

grotesque ‎(plural grotesques)

1. A style of ornamentation characterized by fanciful combinations of intertwined forms.
2. Anything grotesque.
   • 2016 February 23, Robbie Collin, “Grimsby review: ' Sacha Baron Cohen's vital, venomous action movie'”, in The Daily Telegraph (London):

     He’s also the new character from Sacha Baron Cohen, the man behind Ali G, Borat and Brüno: that unholy trinity of comic grotesques that told us a lot more about ourselves than we’d like to admit.

3. (typography) A sans serif typeface.

Related terms

• grotesquely
• grotesqueness

French

Etymology

From Italian grottesco ‎(“of a cave”), from grotta.

Pronunciation

Adjective

grotesque m, f ‎(plural grotesques)

1. farcical (ridiculous)
2. grotesque

Noun

grotesque m ‎(plural grotesques)

1. grotesqueness

Middle French

Alternative forms

• crotesque

Adjective

grotesque m, f ‎(plural grotesques)

1. farcical (ridiculous)

Noun

grotesque f (plural grotesques)

1. small cave
2. ornament

References

• (fr) Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (grotesque, supplement)