humorous
humorous
Pronunciation
Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "humorous" broken down by syllable:
hjuː.mə.rəs
hjuː:
h - voiceless glottal fricative (like a breathy sigh at the beginning)
juː - long close front rounded vowel (like "oo" in "boot")
mə:
m - bilabial nasal (like "m" in "man")
ə - central vowel (schwa sound, a neutral vowel sound)
rəs:
r - alveolar tap (a quick tap of the tongue behind the alveolar ridge)
ə - central vowel (schwa sound)
s - voiceless alveolar fricative (like "s" in "sip")
Word Form Variations
"Humorous" itself doesn't have variations based on singular or plural. It functions as an adjective describing something funny or comical.
However, there are related words based on "humor" that do have variations:
Noun:
Humor (singular and plural) - the quality of being amusing or comical.
Adverb:
Humorously (adverb describing how something is done - in a funny way)
Verb:
To humor (verb meaning to indulge someone's wishes or fancies, even if you find them silly) - This verb conjugation changes based on tense (humored, humoring) and person (I humor, you humor, we humor, etc.).
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition: Amusing, funny, comical, or silly in a lighthearted way. Creates a sense of laughter or amusement.
Synonyms: funny, comical, comedic, hilarious, witty, droll, lighthearted, amusing, playful, jesting
Antonyms: serious, somber, solemn, grave, depressing, dull, boring, heavy-handed
Adverb (derived from adjective):
Definition: In a way that is intended to be funny or amusing.
Synonyms: humorously, comically, wittily, playfully, jestingly
Antonyms: seriously, solemnly, gravely, dryly
Verb (related word: "to humor")
Definition (informal): To indulge someone's wishes or fancies, even if you find them silly or unreasonable.
Synonyms: indulge, cater to, go along with, pander to, appease
Antonyms: resist, oppose, challenge, confront, defy
Note: "To humor" doesn't directly mean "to be funny" itself, but it's related to the concept of finding amusement in someone else's behavior.
Examples of Use
Literature:
Book: "Mr. Bennet was an easy, indulgent father; his daughters' implicit dependence on him strengthened him in his opinion of their merits." (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen) - Here, "indulgent" is a synonym for "humoring" in the context of Mr. Bennet rarely opposing his daughters' wishes.
Newspapers:
Headline: "Cat Steals Owner's Dentures, Uses Them to Play Fetch" (The Washington Post). - The headline uses humor by describing a silly situation involving a cat.
Online Publications:
Social Media Post: "My dog just tried to bury a sock in the middle of the living room. Guess he thinks I'm a terrible gardener. #DogProblems" (Twitter) - This tweet uses humor through a relatable observation about a pet's behavior.
Entertainment Mediums:
Movie: In a comedic scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," King Arthur engages in a series of nonsensical arguments with a bridgekeeper. The humor arises from the absurdity of the dialogue.
General Public Discourse:
Conversation: "You tripped over your shoelace again? Maybe you should tie them differently!" (Friend joking with another friend) - This lighthearted teasing uses humor to make fun of a minor situation.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Humorous
"Life is not always humorous, but even the saddest life contains some comical moments." (Søren Kierkegaard, philosopher)
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." (Charlie Chaplin, actor)
"Humor is the oil of life's engine. Without it, the engine runs hot." (Ashley Montagu, anthropologist)
"I believe that if you can find humor in any situation, you can overcome it." (Aaron Neville, musician)
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." (Nicolas Chamfort, writer)
"I wouldn't take my country back for a cool billion dollars. I wouldn't drill for oil in my own backyard. Because I like living in a place with some sense of humor." (Al Franken, comedian and politician)
"I never feel like anything has been wasted. Even the humorous things that I don't use, they've helped me develop as a writer." (Tina Fey, comedian and writer)
"I think the power of humor is something that's very underappreciated." (Ricky Gervais, comedian)
"Humor keeps us alive. Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh when I am exhausted." (Kurt Vonnegut, author)
"Perhaps in the stories is where we find the consolation we seek, the humorous or tragic reflection of what happens to us." (Isabel Allende, author)
Etymology
The word "humorous" is like a time capsule for an old medical theory! Back in the day (think Middle Ages), people believed our bodies were controlled by fluids called "humors." There were four main ones: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.
The word "humorous" originally came from the Latin word for "moist" or "liquid," which made sense because these humors were fluids. People thought that having the right balance of humors affected your personality and mood.
Believe it or not, it wasn't until much later, around the 1680s, that "humorous" started to mean something funny or amusing. Maybe someone noticed that a good laugh can change your mood just like those old humors were supposed to!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Humorous
Phrases:
A humorous situation: This describes a circumstance that's funny or amusing.
A humorous anecdote: This refers to a short, funny story.
A humorous observation: This points out something funny or lighthearted.
With a humorous tone: This describes the way something is said or written in a funny way.
To find something humorous: This means to think something is funny.
Idioms (While not containing the literal word "humorous," they use humor):
A dry sense of humor: This describes someone who uses subtle or sarcastic humor.
Don't take yourself too seriously: This means to relax and be able to laugh at yourself.
See the funny side: This means to find the humor in a situation, even if it's difficult.
A wink and a smile: This implies a lighthearted or playful way of communicating something.
Crack a smile: This means to start smiling, often because you find something funny.
Posts Related to Humorous
Source Information
Definition of humorous from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
