ridibund

English

WOTD – 26 September 2010

Etymology

From the Latin rīdibundus, from rīdeō (I laugh) + -bundus.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) enPR: rĭʹdĭbŭnd, IPA(key): /ˈɹɪdɪbʌnd/
  • (US) enPR: rĭʹdəbənd', IPA(key): /ˈɹɪdəˌbənd/

Adjective

ridibund (comparative more ridibund, superlative most ridibund)

  1. (rare) Inclined to and easily brought to laughter; happy.
    • 1863, Christoph Friedrich Grieb, A Dictionary of the English and German Languages, page 531, “Lachfrosch”
      Lachfroſch m. laughing or ridibund
    • 1931, Norman Douglas, Summer Islands: Ischia and Ponza, page 19:
      If Ischia could procure a well-regulated outlet after the manner of Stromboli, this danger might be averted and a more ridibund race of mortals evolved.
    • 1978, Evan Esar, The Comic Encyclopedia, page 375:
      The ridibund bumpkin in Yiddish jokelore is a hypergelast.
    • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:ridibund.
  • ridibundal (obsolete)

Translations

References

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