Gro*tesque"ly, adv. In a grotesque manner.
Gro*tesque"ness, n. Quality of being grotesque.
Grot"to (grt"t), n.; pl. Grottoes (-tz). [Formerly grotta, fr. It.
grotta, LL. grupta, fr. L. crypta a concealed subterranean passage,
vault, cavern, Gr. kry`pth, fr. krypto`s concealed, fr. kry`ptein to
conceal. Cf. Grot, Crypt.] A natural covered opening in the earth; a
cave; also, an artificial recess, cave, or cavernlike apartment.
Grot"to-work` (?), n. Artificial and ornamental rockwork in imitation
of a grotto. Cowper.
Ground (ground), n. [OE. ground, grund, AS. grund; akin to D. grond,
OS., G., Sw., & Dan. grund, Icel. grunnr bottom, Goth. grundus (in
composition); perh. orig. meaning, dust, gravel, and if so perh. akin
to E. grind.] 1. The surface of the earth; the outer crust of the
globe, or some indefinite portion of it.
There was not a man to till the ground.
Gen. ii. 5.
The fire ran along upon the ground.
Ex. ix. 23.
Hence: A floor or pavement supposed to rest upon the earth.
2. Any definite portion of the earth's surface; region; territory;
country. Hence: A territory appropriated to, or resorted to, for a
particular purpose; the field or place of action; as, a hunting or
fishing ground; a play ground.
From . . . old Euphrates, to the brook that parts Egypt from Syrian
ground.
Milton.
3. Land; estate; possession; field; esp. (pl.), the gardens, lawns,
fields, etc., belonging to a homestead; as, the grounds of the estate
are well kept.
Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds.
Dryden. 4.
4. The basis on which anything rests; foundation. Hence: The foundation
of knowledge, belief, or conviction; a premise, reason, or datum;
ultimate or first principle; cause of existence or occurrence;
originating force or agency; as, the ground of my hope.
5. (Paint. & Decorative Art) (a) That surface upon which the figures of
a composition are set, and which relieves them by its plainness, being
either of one tint or of tints but slightly contrasted with one
another; as, crimson Bowers on a white ground. See Background,
Foreground, and Middle-ground. (b) In sculpture, a flat surface upon
which figures are raised in relief. (c) In point lace, the net of small
meshes upon which the embroidered pattern is applied; as, Brussels
ground. See Brussels lace, under Brussels.
6. (Etching) A gummy composition spread over the surface of a metal to
be etched, to prevent the acid from eating except where an opening is
made by the needle.
7. (Arch.) One of the pieces of wood, flush with the plastering, to
which moldings, etc., are attached; -- usually in the plural.
Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering floated flush with
them.
8. (Mus.) (a) A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars
of independent notes, is continually repeated to a varying melody. (b)
The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song. Moore (Encyc.).
On that ground I'll build a holy descant.
Shak.
9. (Elec.) A conducting connection with the earth, whereby the earth is
made part of an electrical circuit.
10. pl. Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs; lees;
feces; as, coffee grounds.