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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Attic


AT'TIC, adjective [Latin Atticus; Gr.]

Pertaining to Attica in Greece, or to its principal city, Athens. Thus, attic wit, attic salt, a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to the Athenians; attic faith, inviolable faith.

Attic base, a peculiar base used by the ancient architects in the Ionic order, or column; and by Palladio and others, in the Doric.

Attic order, an order of small square pillars at the uppermost extremity of a building. This had its origin in Athens, and was intended to conceal the roof. These pillars should never exceed one third of the length of the order on which they are placed, nor be less than one quarter of it.

Attic story, a story in the upper part of a house, where the windows usually are square.

AT'TIC, noun

1. A small square pillar with its cornice on the uppermost part of a building. Attics properly form the crown of the building, or a finishing for the other orders, when they are used in the structure.

2. An Athenian; an Athenian author.