humour

[ hyoo-mer ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. humor.

humour

/ ˈhjuːmə /

noun

1. the quality of being funny
2. Also calledsense 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 )

      good humour

      ill 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. archaic.
   Also calledcardinal humour 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. out of humour
   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.

Derived Forms

• ˈhumourless, adjective
• ˈhumourful, adjective
• ˈhumourlessness, 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

One person, however, saw the humour in this adversity and started drawing comics.

From Quartz

This was in 2012—a time when jokes around the price of petrol were so popular they almost made up their own humour genre in India.

From Quartz

Even in the painful separation of child and parent, there was humour.

From The Daily Beast

Take, for instance, Yiddish Mamma, a young Parisian brand that peddles its wares with love and humour.

From The Daily Beast

I let him take it from my hand, knowing it was best to humour him.

From The Daily Beast

He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life.

From The Daily Beast

She is spontaneous with a great sense of humour, humble yet at the same time driven by a healthy ambition.

From The Daily Beast

“We shall make Mr. Pickwick pay for peeping,” said Fogg, with considerable native humour, as he unfolded his papers.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a deep silence throughout the whole bivouac; some were sleeping, and those who watched were in no humour for idle chat.

From Project Gutenberg

Don't chaff, Shirtings; you're a very good fellow, you know, but I'm not in a laughing humour.

From Project Gutenberg

She was delighted by your brilliant talk and sense of humour, but still more delighted by your cordiality and kindness.

From Project Gutenberg

A certain amount of his ill-humour vented, Tressan made an effort to regain his self-control.

From Project Gutenberg