Caricatures

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A representation that exaggerates or distorts certain features for comedic or satirical effect
2. An artistic portrayal that highlights specific traits to evoke humor or critique
3. A humorous illustration that plays upon an individual’s distinctive characteristics in an exaggerated manner

Etymology: "Caricatures" is simply the plural of "caricature," so the useful story is the parent word's. It is easy to assume the word descends from "character," since the two look alike and both concern personal traits. It does not. The Italian "caricatura" comes from the verb "caricare," meaning "to load" or "to charge," and that verb traces back to Latin "carrus," a wheeled cart. The sense was of a loaded or overcharged picture, one that pushes features beyond their natural proportions. The word reached English by way of French "caricature," which kept the same overloaded sense. "Character," by contrast, comes from Ancient Greek "kharaktēr," an engraving tool, which is why the two words are unrelated despite their resemblance.

Synonyms: caricatured likenesses, parodies, satire, exaggerations, sketches

Antonyms: realism, accuracy, truth, seriousness, exactness