humour

[hyoo-mer]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. humor.

humour

/ ˈhjuːmə /

noun

1. the quality of being funny

2. Also called: sense of humour. the ability to appreciate or express that which is humorous

3. situations, speech, or writings that are thought to be humorous

4. 1. a state of mind; temper; mood

   2. ( in combination )

      ill humour

      good humour

5. temperament or disposition

6. a caprice or whim

7. any of various fluids in the body, esp the aqueous humour and vitreous humour

8. Also called: cardinal humour. archaic,  any of the four bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, choler or yellow bile, melancholy or black bile) formerly thought to determine emotional and physical disposition

9. in a bad mood

verb

1. to attempt to gratify; indulge

   he humoured the boy's whims

2. to adapt oneself to

   to humour someone's fantasies

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• humourless adjective
• humourful adjective
• humourlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of humour¹

C14: from Latin humor liquid; related to Latin ūmēre to be wet, Old Norse vökr moist, Greek hugros wet

Example Sentences

"It is obviously a film that has a different meaning now he's no longer with us," he said, "but what you will see in the film is that sense of humour is totally intact."

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"There's a gallows humour about the party, a 'well it can't get any worse, can it?' strange jovialness which is kind of bonding," says one Tory MP.

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You couldn't accuse Manchester United's fans of lacking a sense of humour.

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He said "everyone was calm and dignified" and people "used an element of humour" to keep going.

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He might even develop a sense of humour!

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