humorous
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle English humorous (compare Medieval Latin hūmorōsus), equivalent to humor + -ous.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
humorous (comparative more humorous, superlative most humorous)
- Full of humor or arousing laughter; funny.
- The waiters were so humorous - one even did a backflip for us, when we asked him.
- Showing humor; witty, jocular.
- (obsolete) Damp or watery.
- (obsolete) Dependent on or caused by one's humour or mood; capricious, whimsical.
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of the affection of fathers to their children”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821, page 212:
- It is a melancholy humor […] that firſt put this humorous conceipt [transl. resverie] of writing into my head.
Usage notesEdit
While the spelling humour is preferred over humor in British English, humorous is standard in both American and British English, and humourous is nonstandard.
SynonymsEdit
- (arousing laughter): amusing, funny
- (witty): amusing, jocular, witty
- See also Thesaurus:funny
- See also Thesaurus:witty
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
full of humor or arousing laughter; funny
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showing humor; witty, jocular
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