English

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Etymology

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From Latin hilaris (cheerful), from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, cheerful, merry), from ἵλαος (hílaos, propitious, gracious, kind).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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hilarious (comparative more hilarious, superlative most hilarious)

  1. Very funny; causing great merriment and laughter.
    a hilarious joke
  2. Full of hilarity; merry.
    • 1944, Douglas Stewart, A Girl with Red Hair, and Other Stories, page 60:
      Rounding up the animals in the misty paddocks, with the blackbirds singing as the morning whitened, he felt hilarious, light-headed. He'd clap the cows on their rumps and shout "Come along, there! Come along there, me Irish darlint."
    • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
      Cold Doctor Pell here refused a very considerable fee. He could on occasion behave handsomely; but I can't learn that blustering, hilarious Doctor Rogerson ever refused his.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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