Dictionary of Humorous Words: Vocabulary Building

Manik Joshi

Oct 2014 · English Word Power Book 9 · Manik Joshi

About this ebook

What are “Humorous Words”?

 

What is Humor? [HUMOUR [(British English) | HUMOR (AMERICAN ENGLISH)]

Humor is something that is funny, comical, or amusing

 

Definition of ‘Humorous Words’

Words that are intended to be amusing, entertaining, funny, or comical are called humorous words.

 

Examples:

beak [noun] – large or pointed nose of somebody

ego-surfing [noun] – the activity of searching your name on different websites on the Internet

iron rations [noun] – a small amount of food carried for an emergency by soldiers, etc. while climbing or walking

unhand [verb] – to release somebody that you are holding

 

 

Besides “Humorous Words”, there are some Idioms and Phrasal Verbs which are used to express humor (amusement or funniness)

Example- (idiom): a big cheese – a very important and influential person in a big organization

Example- (phrasal verb): gird (up) your loins – to get ready to do a difficult task or activity

 

 

NOTE: Many ‘Humorous Words’ are also used in ‘formal’, ‘informal’ or other sense

Example:

BEAST

beast [noun] [Humorous] – a person or thing who is unpleasant

beast [noun] [Informal] – a thing of a particular type

beast [noun] [Formal] – a large and dangerous animal

 

 

A detailed list of ‘humorous words’, parts of speech they belong to, and their meanings are as follows:

 

Humorous Words -- A

 

abaya [noun]

a full-length, sleeveless outer garment worn by Arabs

 

abdicate [verb]

to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach

 

abibliophobia [noun]

the fear of running out of reading material

 

abomasums [noun]

the fourth stomach of a ruminant, such as a cow or a sheep

 

absquatulate [verb]

to abruptly leave or abscond with something

 

academe [noun]

the world of studying, teaching, etc. at academic institutions e.g. universities and colleges

 

accoutrements (accouterments) [noun]

pieces of equipment that are required for an activity; accessories

 

acerbate [verb]

to embitter somebody

 

acidulous [adjective]

rather sour or sharp in speech, manner, etc.

 

adjourn to… [phrasal verb]

to go to another place to calm down

 

of advanced years | sb's advanced age [idiom]

used to show that somebody is ‘very old’ or aged

 

agelast [noun]

one who never laughs

 

aglet [noun]

the plastic tip on the end of a shoelace

 

alack [exclamation]

used to express sadness or regret

 

allegator [noun]

someone who alleges

 

allergic [adjective]

strong dislike towards somebody

 

amatory [adjective]

relating to physical activity or desire

 

amphibology [noun]

grammatically ambiguous phrase or sentence (e.g.: he talked to his son and his daughter)

 

amphisbaena [noun]

a mythical serpent with a head at each end

 

anencephalous [adjective]

lacking a brain

 

anfractuous [adjective]

circuitous or winding

 

anguilliform [adjective]

resembling an eel

 

anserine [adjective]

goose-like | silly or foolish

 

antediluvian [adjective]

traditional or out-of-date

 

anthropophagy [noun]

cannibalism

 

apolaustic [adjective]

devoted to the seeking of enjoyment

 

apple-knocker [noun]

an ignorant or unsophisticated person

 

appurtenance [noun]

a smaller part of something larger, superior or more significant

 

archipelago [noun]

a chain of islands

 

argle-bargle [noun]

meaningless and abundant talk or writing

Ratings and reviews

I wish it had the pronunciation included with each word.

About the author

Manik Joshi was born on January 26, 1979, at Ranikhet, a picturesque town in the Kumaon region of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. He is a permanent resident of the Sheeshmahal area of Kathgodam located in the city of Haldwani in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand in India. He completed his schooling in four different schools. He is a science graduate in the ZBC – zoology, botany, and chemistry – subjects. He is also an MBA with a specialization in marketing. Additionally, he holds diplomas in “computer applications”, “multimedia and web-designing”, and “computer hardware and networking”. During his schooldays, he wanted to enter the field of medical science; however, after graduation, he shifted his focus to the field of management. After obtaining his MBA, he enrolled in a computer education center; he became so fascinated with working on the computer that he decided to develop his career in this field. Over the following years, he worked at some computer-related full-time jobs. Following that, he became interested in Internet Marketing, particularly in domaining (business of buying and selling domain names), web design (creating websites), and various other online jobs. However, later he shifted his focus solely to self-publishing. Manik is a nature-lover. He has always been fascinated by overcast skies. He is passionate about traveling and enjoys solo travel most of the time rather than traveling in groups. He is actually quite a loner who prefers to do his own thing. He likes to listen to music, particularly when he is working on the computer. Reading and writing are definitely his favorite pastimes, but he has no interest in sports. Manik has always dreamt of a prosperous life and prefers to live a life of luxury. He has a keen interest in politics because he believes it is politics that decides everything else. He feels a sense of gratification sharing his experiences and knowledge with the outside world. However, he is an introvert by nature and thus gives prominence to only a few people in his personal life. He is not a spiritual man, yet he actively seeks knowledge about the metaphysical world; he is particularly interested in learning about life beyond death. In addition to writing academic/informational text and fictional content, he also maintains a personal diary. He has always had a desire to stand out from the crowd. He does not believe in treading the beaten path and avoids copying someone else’s path to success. Two things he always refrains from are smoking and drinking; he is a teetotaler and very health-conscious. He usually wakes up before the sun rises. He starts his morning with meditation and exercise. Fitness is an integral and indispensable part of his life. He gets energized by solving complex problems. He loves himself the way he is and he loves the way he looks. He doesn’t believe in following fashion trends. He dresses according to what suits him and what he is comfortable in. He believes in taking calculated risks. His philosophy is to expect the best but prepare for the worst. According to him, you can’t succeed if you are unwilling to fail. For Manik, life is about learning from mistakes and figuring out how to move forward.