Comedy

Alternative forms

• comedie archaic, often affected as such for humourous effect
• comÅ“die archaic
• comÅ“dy archaic

Origin

First attested in 1374. From Old French comedie, from Latin cōmoedia, from Ancient Greek κωμῳδία (kōmōidia), from κῶμος (kōmos, "revel, carousing") + either ᾠδή (ōidē, "song") or ἀοιδός (aoidos, "singer, bard"), both from ἀείδω (aeidō, "I sing").

Full definition of comedy

Noun

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

Antonyms

• drama
• tragedy

Derived terms

• comedic
• comedically
• comedy of errors
• situation comedy, sitcom
• comic
• comedian

Related terms

• comic