different between grotesque vs meretricious

English

Etymology

From Middle French grotesque (French grotesque), from Italian grottesco (“of a cave”), from grotta. Compare English grotto.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?????t?sk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??o??t?sk/

Adjective

grotesque (comparative grotesquer, superlative grotesquest)

1. Distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous.
2. Disgusting or otherwise viscerally revolting.
3. (typography) Sans serif.

Derived terms

• grody
• grotty
• guro, ero-guro

Translations

Noun

grotesque (countable and uncountable, plural grotesques)

2. A style of ornamentation characterized by fanciful combinations of intertwined forms.
3. Anything grotesque.
4. (typography) A sans serif typeface.

Related terms

• grotesquely
• grotesqueness

Further reading

• Grotesque in the 1905 edition of the New International Encyclopedia.

French

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???.t?sk/

Adjective

grotesque (plural grotesques)

1. farcical (ridiculous)
2. grotesque

Noun

grotesque m (plural grotesques)

1. grotesqueness

Further reading

• “grotesque” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Middle French

Alternative forms

• crotesque

Etymology

From Italian grottesco.

Adjective

grotesque m or f (plural grotesques)

1. farcical (ridiculous)

Descendants

• ? English: grotesque
• French: grotesque

Noun

grotesque f (plural grotesques)

1. small cave
2. ornament

References

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

English

Etymology

From Latin meretr?cius, from meretr?x (“harlot, prostitute”), from mere? (“earn, deserve, merit”) (English merit) + -tr?x (“(female agent)”) (English -trix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m????t????s/, /?m????t????s/
• Rhymes: -???s

Adjective

meretricious (comparative more meretricious, superlative most meretricious)

1. Tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring.
   • 2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho, Picador 2007, p. 164:

     When I lifted my eyes from the page, there was none of the meretricious argument London always offers that the sole real purpose in life is to hustle for a buck.

2. (law) Involving unlawful sexual connection or lack of consent by at least one party (said of a romantic relationship).
3. (obsolete) Of, or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.

Synonyms

• (tastelessly showy): brassy, cheap, flashy, garish, gaudy, gimcrack, tacky, tatty, tawdry, trashy

Related terms

• merit (see also: merit: related terms)

Translations