Attic

Attic
/at"ik/, adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Greece or of Athens.
2. (often l.c.) displaying simple elegance, incisive intelligence, and delicate wit.
n.
3. the dialect of ancient Attica that became the standard language of Classical Greek literature in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C.
[1555-65; < L Atticus < Gk Attikós]

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Floor of a dwelling contained within the eaves of the roof structure.

The word originally denoted any portion of a wall above the main cornice (see entablature). Used by the ancient Romans principally for decorative purposes and inscriptions, as in triumphal arches, it became an important part of the Renaissance facade, often enclosing an additional story.

Inscribed attic surmounting the main cornice of the Arch of Titus, Rome, AD 81

A.F. Kersting

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 in architecture, story immediately under the roof of a structure and wholly or partly within the roof framing. Originally, the word denoted any portion of a wall above the main cornice. Utilized by the ancient Romans principally for decorative purposes and inscriptions, as in triumphal arches, it became an important part of the Renaissance facade, often enclosing an additional story, the windows of which became part of the decoration.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Attic — At tic, a. [L. Atticus, Gr. ?.] Of or pertaining to Attica, in Greece, or to Athens, its principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined. [1913 Webster] {Attic base} (Arch.), a peculiar form of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • attic — top story under the roof of a house, 1855, shortened from attic storey (1724). The term Attic order in classical architecture meant a small, square decorative column of the type often used in a low story above a building s main facade, a feature… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Attic — At tic, n. [In sense (a) from F. attique, orig. meaning Attic. See {Attic}, a.] 1. (Arch.) (a) A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the classical styles; a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence: (b) A room or rooms… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • attic — [at′ik] n. [Fr attique, an attic < Attique, ATTIC, used as an architectural term] 1. a low wall or story above the cornice of a classical facade 2. the room or space just below the roof of a house; garret …   English World dictionary

  • attic — ► NOUN ▪ a space or room inside the roof of a building. ORIGIN originally a term in classical architecture: from Latin Atticus Attic …   English terms dictionary

  • Attic — 1590s, pertaining to Attica, from L. Atticus, from Gk. Attikos Athenian, of Attica, the region around Athens (see ATTICA (Cf. Attica)). Attested from 1560s as an architectural term for a type of column base …   Etymology dictionary

  • attic — [n] space under the roof of a house garret, loft, sky parlor*, top floor; concepts 440,448 …   New thesaurus

  • Attic — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to Attica in Greece, or to ancient Athens …   English terms dictionary

  • Attic — [at′ik] adj. [L Atticus < Gr Attikos] 1. of Attica 2. of or characteristic of Athens, esp. ancient Athens, or its people, language, or culture; Athenian 3. classical; simple, restrained, etc.: said of a style n. the variety of Greek spoken in… …   English World dictionary

  • Attic — Die Attic Entertainment Software GmbH (engl. attic „Dachboden“) war ein deutscher Computer Spieleentwickler und Publisher der im September 1990 von Hans Jürgen Brändle, Jochen Hamma und Guido Henkel (zuvor Dragonware) in Albstadt gegründet wurde …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • attic — [18] In classical architecture, an Attic order was a pilaster, or square column (the naḿe comes from Attica, a region of ancient Greece of which Athens was the capital). This type of column was often used in a relatively low storey placed above… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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