Caricatura

Part of speech: INVALID

Definitions

1. A satirical representation that exaggerates the physical features or traits of an individual or concept, usually for comedic effect or critique of societal norms
2. This artistic style amplifies particular aspects of a person or idea to entertain while often delivering a critical perspective on the subject being portrayed
3. A humorous illustration that distorts and highlights specific characteristics of a person or idea, often serving as a form of social commentary or entertainment

Etymology: Many people assume "caricature" descends from "character," since both involve capturing a person's essence, but the two words are unrelated. The Italian source, "caricatura," comes from the verb "caricare," meaning "to load" or "to overload," and the underlying Latin root is "carrus," a wheeled vehicle. The idea was that an artist deliberately loaded or overloaded a likeness with exaggerated features, the way a cart is overloaded with cargo. The word passed into French as "caricature" and then into English, where it kept the sense of pictorial exaggeration. The Archaic form "caricatura" shows the Italian spelling that English speakers briefly retained before settling on the French-shaped version.