humor
Definitions
The quality of being amusing or funny; the ability to find or express what is funny.
幽默，诙谐；觉得或表达好笑的能力。
A person's state of mind or mood at a particular time.
（一时的）心情，情绪。
To go along with someone's wishes to keep them content; to indulge.
迁就，纵容（以使某人满意）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Latin humēre 'to be moist' → humor 'a bodily fluid.' Medieval medicine held that four humors (fluids) set your temperament; being 'in good humor' meant balanced fluids. The fluid sense faded into 'mood,' then narrowed to the funny kind of mood. humor is the American spelling (humour in Britain).
Root hum still carries 46 more wordsWhy It Means This
The 'moist' branch of the root. Latin humēre meant 'to be wet'; a humor was a bodily fluid. Old medicine taught that the four humors had to stay balanced or your mood went wrong, so 'in a good humor' literally described balanced fluids. The theory died, but the word drifted from 'fluid' to 'mood' to today's 'sense of fun.'
Usage Guide
Spelling: humor (American) / humour (British); same word. The verb sense ('humor a child,' 'just humor me') means 'go along with someone to keep them happy,' not 'be funny.'
Example Sentences
- 1.
His dry sense of humor takes some people a while to appreciate.
- 2.
She was in no humor for jokes after the long flight.
- 3.
We humored him by pretending to believe his story.