risibility

[ riz-uh-bil-i-tee ]

/ ˌrɪz əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun, plural ris·i·bil·i·ties.

Often risibilities. the ability or disposition to laugh; humorous awareness of the ridiculous and absurd.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL PART OF SPEECH QUIZ!

How well do you know your adjectives from your adverbs? Your preposition from your pronouns? Your interjections from your conjunctions? Let’s put your knowledge of parts of speech to the text! Note: Many of the following questions will ask you to identify the parts of speech “in order.” That means the first word in all capital letters will correspond to the first option in an answer, and so on.

Question 1 of 10

In order, what parts of speech are the words in all capital letters? Alisa was VERY tired, SO she decided to go to bed.

adverb, adverb

adverb, conjunction

adjective, conjunction

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of risibility

From the Late Latin word rīsibilitās, dating back to 1610–20. See risible, -ity

Words nearby risibility

rise to the bait, rise to the occasion, risen, riser, rishi, risibility, risible, rising, rising action, rising damp, rising diphthong

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for risibility

Man is the only risible animal: risibility may be said, therefore, to be his distinguishing mark.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 64, No. 398, December 1848|Various
"What is the matter," inquired Gayfield, unconscious of being the cause of their risibility.
Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II.|Pierce Egan
Indeed, the Japanese have recourse to risibility whenever the frailties of human nature are put to severest test.
Bushido, the Soul of Japan|Inazo Nitob
Mr. Maguire did not respond to the young squire's risibility; the cast of his countenance was decidedly serious.
Humorous Ghost Stories|Dorothy Scarborough

Old Matthew's risibility was evidently much tickled by the sense of their thwarted purpose.
The Shadow of a Crime|Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for risibility

risibility

/ (ˌrɪzɪˈbɪlɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

a tendency to laugh

hilarity; laughter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012