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

Examples of HUMOR

1. He didn't appreciate the humor of the situation.
2. Someday, you'll see the humor in this.
3. Everyone likes the gentle humor of his stories of family life.
4. She doesn't care for ethnic humor.
5. The book is a collection of American humor.
6. 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

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See Synonym Discussion at wit

Rhymes with HUMOR

bloomer, Bloomer, boomer, groomer, roomer, rumor, Sumer, tumor

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