jocose
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See jovial.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of jocose
First recorded in 1665–75; from Latin jocōsus, equivalent to joc(us) “jest” + -ōsus adjective suffix; see joke, -ose 1
Explanation
Your friend Robert who always makes funny observations and light-hearted quips? He’s jocose, meaning he's good humored and jokes around a lot. Latin may not seem like a lot of laughs sometimes, but it is responsible for injecting a little humor into English words that have their origins in jocus, the Latin word meaning "joke" or "jest." Jocose, jocular, joke — they all come from jocus. Jocose first came into English in the seventeenth century as a way to describe something that’s characterized by a playful, merry humor.
Vocabulary lists containing jocose
Heart of Darkness
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Lee Surrenders to Grant (1865)
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Intermediate, List 12
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The more sorry because I felt that the Jocose Swede had come near having me as the butt of his little joke, instead of Cockney.
From The Blood Ship by Springer, Norman
Jocose, jo-kōs′, adj. full of jokes: humorous: merry.—adv.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
"Jocose as ever, Mehitabel," observed the doctor, going to work at once with swift and delicate precision.
From The Puritans by Bates, Arlo
Jocose follies, and slight offences, are only allowed by mankind in him that overpowers them by great qualities.
From Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies by Johnson, Samuel
Jocose as was the manner of it, it throws light upon his idea of his duty in the state.
From Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White — Volume 2 by White, Andrew Dickson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
