humor

humor [hyo͞o′mər, yo͞o′mər]

n.

[ME < OFr < L humor, umor, moisture, fluid, akin to umere, to be moist < IE base * wegw-, * ugw-, moist, moisten, WAKE², Gr hygros, moist, fluid, Du wak, wet]

1. any fluid or juice of an animal or plant; esp., any of the four fluids (cardinal humors) formerly considered responsible for one's health and disposition; blood, phlegm, choler, or melancholy

2.

a) a person's disposition or temperament

b) a mood; state of mind

3. whim; fancy; caprice

4. the quality that makes something seem funny, amusing, or ludicrous; comicality

5.

a) the ability to perceive, appreciate, or express what is funny, amusing, or ludicrous

b) the expression of this in speech, writing, or action

6. any fluid or fluidlike substance of the body; blood, lymph, bile, etc. [the aqueous humor]

vt.

1. to comply with the mood or whim of (another); indulge

2. to act in agreement with the nature of; adapt oneself to

SYN.- INDULGE, MOOD, WIT¹

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out of humor

not in a good mood; cross; disagreeable

humorless

adj.