humourous en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree English humour Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos? Old Latin -ōssus Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English humourous From humour + -ous.
Meanings
-
(UK, alt-of, alternative, proscribed, uncommon) Alternative spelling of humorous.
alt of humorous
[W]hatever Perſon vvould aſpire to be completely vvitty, ſmart, humourous, and polite, muſt by hard Labour be able to retain in his Memory every ſingle Sentence contained in this VVork, […]
1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “An Introduction to the Following Treatise”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, →OCLC, page xiv:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most humourous | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more humourous | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |