“通过对特征的荒谬夸张, grotesque or ludicrous representation of persons or things by an absurd exaggeration of what is characteristic,” 1748年(比喻义),1750年(字面义),源自法语 caricature(18世纪),来自意大利语 caricatura “讽刺画;夸张”,字面意思是“过载”,源自 caricare “装载;夸张”,来自俗拉丁语 *carricare “装载马车或手推车”,源自拉丁语 carrus “双轮马车”(参见 car)。意大利语形式自1680年代起在英语中使用,并在18世纪普遍流行。
A representation, pictorial or descriptive, in which beauties or favorable points are concealed or perverted and peculiarities or defects exaggerated, so as to make the person or thing represented ridiculous, while a general likeness is retained. [Century Dictionary]
一种表现方式,无论是图画还是描述,其中美丽或有利的特征被掩盖或扭曲,而独特性或缺陷则被夸张,以使所描绘的人或物显得荒谬,同时保留一般的相似性。[世纪词典]