comedy

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Ancient Greek κῶμος (kômos) Proto-Hellenic *awéidō Proto-Hellenic *-ā́ Proto-Hellenic *awoidā́ Ancient Greek ᾰ̓οιδή (ăoidḗ) Ancient Greek ᾠδή (ōidḗ) Ancient Greek κῶμος (kômos) Proto-Hellenic *awoidós Ancient Greek ἀοιδός (aoidós) Ancient Greek κωμῳδῐ́ᾱ (kōmōidĭ́ā)bor. Latin cōmoediader. Middle French comediebor. Middle English comedie English comedy Inherited from Middle English comedie, borrowed from Middle French comedie, from Latin cōmoedia, borrowed from Ancient Greek κωμῳδῐ́ᾱ (kōmōidĭ́ā), from κῶμος (kômos, “revel, carousing”) + ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”), or from κῶμος (kômos, “revel, carousing”) + ἀοιδός (aoidós, “singer, bard”). Doublet of commedia.

1. a choric song of celebration or revel, especially in Ancient Greece
2. a light, amusing play with a happy ending

   “A Midsummer Night's Dream is among Shakespeare's most famous comedies.”

3. a narrative poem with an agreeable ending (e.g., The Divine Comedy)
4. a dramatic work that is light and humorous or satirical in tone
5. the genre of such works
6. 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. a humorous event