Meaning of humor in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈ(h)jumər/

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  1. Verb

    humor

    Definitions

    1. put into a good mood

    Derived terms

  2. Noun

    humor

    Etymology

    Middle English: via Old French from Latin humor‘moisture’, from humere (see humid). The original sense was ‘bodily fluid’ (surviving in aqueous humour and vitreous humour); it was used specifically for any of the cardinal humors (humor (sense 3 of the noun)), whence ‘mental disposition’ (thought to be caused by the relative proportions of the humors). This led, in the 16th century, to the senses ‘mood’ (humor (sense 2 of the noun)) and ‘whim’, hence to humour someone ‘to indulge a person's whim’. humor (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the late 16th century

    Definitions

    1. a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
  3. 2. the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous

    Examples

    • « she didn't appreciate my humor »
    • « you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor »
  4. 3. a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

    Examples

    • « whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time »
    • « he was in a bad humor »

    Derived terms

  5. 4. the quality of being funny

    Examples

    • « I fail to see the humor in it »
  6. 5. (Middle Ages) one of the four fluids in the body whose balance was believed to determine your emotional and physical state

    Examples

    • « the humors are blood and phlegm and yellow and black bile »
  7. 6. the liquid parts of the body

Famous quotes

  • « Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law? »
    Dick Clark
  • « I think Canadian humor is a little less broad than American humor. »
    Scott Thompson
  • « Humor is something that thrives between man's aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth. »
    Victor Borge
  • « I have a dark sense of humor. »
    Olivia Munn
  • « All my jobs have been with food in one way or another since 1948. My parents were in the hotel business, and I just loved the warm hearted people who worked so hard with such good humor. »
    Graham Kerr

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