humor
1hu·mor
noun \ˈhyü-mər, ˈyü-\Definition of HUMOR
1
a : a normal functioning bodily semifluid or fluid (as the blood or lymph) b : a secretion (as a hormone) that is an excitant of activity
2
a in medieval physiology : a fluid or juice of an animal or plant; specifically : one of the four fluids entering into the constitution of the body and determining by their relative proportions a person's health and temperament b : characteristic or habitual disposition or bent : temperament <of cheerful humor> c : an often temporary state of mind imposed especially by circumstances <was in no humor to listen> d : a sudden, unpredictable, or unreasoning inclination : whim <the uncertain humors of nature>
3
a : that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous b : the mental faculty of discovering, expressing, or appreciating the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous c : something that is or is designed to be comical or amusing
— out of humor
: out of sorts
See Examples of HUMOR
- He didn't appreciate the humor of the situation.
- Someday, you'll see the humor in this.
- Everyone likes the gentle humor of his stories of family life.
- She doesn't care for ethnic humor.
- The book is a collection of American humor.
- His humor is one of his most attractive qualities.
Origin of HUMOR
Middle English humour, from Anglo-French umor, umour, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin humor, from Latin humor, umor moisture; akin to Old Norse vǫkr damp, Latin humēre to be moist, and perhaps to Greek hygros wet
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to HUMOR
Synonyms: comedy, comic, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness, richness, uproariousness
Antonyms: pathos
Related Words: amusement, enjoyment, fun, pleasure; absurdity, irony, laughableness, ludicrousness, ridiculousness; whimsicality, wittiness, wryness; burlesque, caricature, farce, jest, lampoon, parody, satire, slapstick, spoof, takeoff; jocularity, jokiness, playfulness, waggishness
Near Antonyms: agony, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, torment, torture, tribulation, woe; gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, somberness
See Synonym Discussion at wit
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