Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AT'TIC, a. [L. Atticus; Gr. Αττικος.]

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. – Encyc. 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 in which they are placed, nor be less than one quarter of it. – Encyc. Attic story, a story in the upper part of a house, where the windows usually are square. – Encyc.