comedy

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

First attested in 1374. From Old French comedie, from Latin cōmoedia, from Ancient Greek κωμῳδία (kōmōidía), from κῶμος (kômos, “revel, carousing”) + either ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”) or ἀοιδός (aoidós, “singer, bard”), both from ἀείδω (aeídō, “I sing”).

Pronunciation
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɑm.ə.di/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

comedy (countable and uncountable, plural comedies)

  1. (countable, historical) A choric song of celebration or revel, especially in Ancient Greece.
  2. (countable) A light, amusing play with a happy ending.
  3. (countable, Medieval Europe) A narrative poem with an agreeable ending (e.g., The Divine Comedy).
  4. (countable, drama) A dramatic work that is light and humorous or satirical in tone.
  5. (drama) The genre of such works.
  6. (uncountable) Entertainment composed of jokes, satire, or humorous performance.
    Why would you be watching comedy when there are kids starving right now?
  7. The art of composing comedy.
  8. (countable) A humorous event.

Antonyms
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Derived terms
Derived terms

Translations

References
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