Meaning of humor | Babel Free

Definitions

1. mood (a mental or emotional state)
2. US spelling of humour.
   US, alt-of, uncountable, usually
3. In a bad mood; irritable.
4. out of humor, dissatisfied; cross.
5. One of the four fluids of the body—blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile—whose relative proportions were thought in ancient and medieval medicine to determine general health and character.
6. a concise witticism or well-turned phrase. — Atticist, n.
7. the condition or quality of being biting or caustic, as humor, speech, etc. See also speech. — mordant, adj.
8. trifles or trivia, especially light verses or sayings.
9. the habit of dealing with serious matters in a spirit of good and sometimes cynical good humor. [Allusion to Rabelais’ satirical novels Gargantua (1534) and Pantagruel (1532), especially to the behavior of Pantagruel, Gargantua’s huge son.] — Pantagruelian, adj.
   Gargantua
10. a humorous performance at the piano, sometimes with a verbal accompaniment by the performer.
11. the personality or character of Rabelais, as in the use of coarse, satirical humor. Also Rabelaisianism.
12. a person skilled in the exchange of witticisms.

Equivalents

Examples

“He was in a particularly vile humor that afternoon.”

“For some days a fistula lacrymalis had come⟳ into my left eye, which discharged an humour, when pressed, that portended danger.”

“The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss⟳ Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward⟳ she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love⟳ for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.”

“There are two ways to become⟳ an authority on humor. The first way is to be one of the perpetrators. You know⟳ them: comedians, satirists, cartoonists, and impersonators. The second way to gain⟳ such credentials is to be the victim of their merciless talents. As such a victim, I take⟳ a backseat to no one as far as humor is concerned.”

CEFR level