humour

English

/ˈhjuː.mə(ɹ)/, /ˈhjuːmɚ/

noun
Definitions
  • (uncountable) The quality of being amusing, comical, funny.
  • (uncountable) A mood, especially a bad mood; a temporary state of mind or disposition brought upon by an event; an abrupt illogical inclination or whim.
  • (archaic) Any of the fluids in an animal body, especially the four "cardinal humours" of blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm that were believed to control the health and mood of the human body.
  • (medicine) Either of the two regions of liquid within the eyeball, the aqueous humour and vitreous humour.
  • (obsolete) Moist vapour, moisture.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English humour derived from Old French humor (bodily fluid) derived from Latin humor (fluid).

Origin

Latin

humor

Gloss

fluid

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms