ENGLISH
REFERENCE

humorous

adj.
US //ˈhjumɝəs// UK //hjˈuːməɹəs// hu·mor·ous
  1. 1 funny or amusing (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    funny and enjoyable; something that makes you smile or laugh.

    arousing laughter or amusement; characterized by humor or wit.

    Example

    He told a humorous story about his first day at work that made everyone laugh.

    Example

    The author's humorous observations about suburban life provide a lighthearted but accurate critique of modern social norms.

    Pitfall
    The movie was very humor.
    The movie was very humorous.

    Use the noun 'humor' for the quality itself, and the adjective 'humorous' to describe the thing that is funny.

  2. 2 capricious or moody (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    changing your mood or mind quickly for no clear reason.

    subject to or indicative of a person's changing moods or whims.

    Example

    In the old play, the king was a humorous man who changed his mind every hour.

    Example

    The character's humorous nature was attributed to an imbalance of fluids, leading to sudden and unpredictable shifts in his temperament.

    Usage

    This sense relates to the historical medical theory of the four humours.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is archaic and rarely encountered outside of historical literature or academic discussions of medieval medicine.

Origin

From Middle English humorous (compare Medieval Latin hūmorōsus), equivalent to humor + -ous.

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