Obs. Also 8 carri-, carra-, 8–9 cara-. [It.; lit. ‘charge,’ ‘loading,’ f. caricare to charge, load, exaggerate. Superseded in English by caricature.]
1. = CARICATURE 1.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Misc. Tracts, 207. Pieces and Draughts in Caricatura.
1690. Sir T. Browne’s Lett. to Friend, § 10, note. When men’s faces are drawn with resemblance to some other animals, the Italians call it, to be drawn in Caricatura.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., IV. I shall be stuck up in caricatura in all the print shops.
1829. Cunningham, Brit. Paint., I. 187. Heidegger … had a face beyond the reach of caricatura.
2. = CARICATURE 2.
1712. Hughes, Spect., No. 537, ¶ 2. Those burlesque Pictures, which the Italians call Caracatura’s; where the Art consists in preserving, amidst distorted Proportions and aggravated Features, some distinguishing Likeness of the Person.
1751. Chesterf., Lett., 10 May. Rembrandt paints caricaturas.
1814. J. Caulfield, Calcograph., Pref. The multiplicity of caracaturas of my person already appeared.
b. = CARICATURE 2 b.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., V. § 20. Nothing is easier than to make a Caricatura (as the Painters call it) of any Profession upon Earth.
1756–82. J. Warton, Ess. Pope, II. viii. 42. A caricatura of Cowley.
1783. W. F. Martyn, Geog. Mag., II. 172. Their plays being mere extravagant caricaturas.
3. = CARICATURE 3.
1752. (title) Lusus Naturæ, or Carracaturas of the present Age.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 313. Every thing appears to me a caricatura of London.
1809. Q. Rev., I. 347. Who can believe such a caricatura … ever existed?
4. attrib.
1680. Sir T. Browne, Lett. to Friend, § 10. What Caricatura Draughts Death makes upon pined Faces. Ibid. (1682), Chr. Mor., iii. 14. Caricatura representations.
