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zany

zany [ záyni ]


adjective  (comparative zanier, superlative zaniest)
Definition:
 
amusingly unconventional: entertainingly strange or amusingly unusual



noun  (plural zanies)
Definition:
 
1. clown: a fool, buffoon, or clown

2. stock character: a stock character in Renaissance comedies who mimicked other characters

[Late 16th century. Via French zani< Italian dialect Zanni, variant of Gianni, pet form of Giovanni, character in the commedia dell'arte who tried to mimic the clown]

zanily adverb
zaniness noun
zanism noun
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