Humor

Humor Hu"mor, n. [OE. humour, OF. humor, umor, F. humeur, L. humor, umor, moisture, fluid, fr. humere, umere, to be moist. See {Humid}.] [Written also {humour}.] 1. Moisture, especially, the moisture or fluid of animal bodies, as the chyle, lymph, etc.; as, the humors of the eye, etc. [1913 Webster]

Note: The ancient physicians believed that there were four humors (the blood, phlegm, yellow bile or choler, and black bile or melancholy), on the relative proportion of which the temperament and health depended. [1913 Webster]

2. (Med.) A vitiated or morbid animal fluid, such as often causes an eruption on the skin. ``A body full of humors.'' --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]

3. State of mind, whether habitual or temporary (as formerly supposed to depend on the character or combination of the fluids of the body); disposition; temper; mood; as, good humor; ill humor. [1913 Webster]

Examine how your humor is inclined, And which the ruling passion of your mind. --Roscommon. [1913 Webster]

A prince of a pleasant humor. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

I like not the humor of lying. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. pl. Changing and uncertain states of mind; caprices; freaks; vagaries; whims. [1913 Webster]

Is my friend all perfection, all virtue and discretion? Has he not humors to be endured? --South. [1913 Webster]

5. That quality of the imagination which gives to ideas an incongruous or fantastic turn, and tends to excite laughter or mirth by ludicrous images or representations; a playful fancy; facetiousness. [1913 Webster]

For thy sake I admit That a Scot may have humor, I'd almost said wit. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]

A great deal of excellent humor was expended on the perplexities of mine host. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]

{Aqueous humor}, {Crystalline humor} or {Crystalline lens}, {Vitreous humor}. (Anat.) See {Eye}.

{Out of humor}, dissatisfied; displeased; in an unpleasant frame of mind.

Syn: Wit; satire; pleasantry; temper; disposition; mood; frame; whim; fancy; caprice. See {Wit}. [1913 Webster]