hilarity
pronunciation
How to pronounce hilarity in British English:
UK [hɪˈlærəti]
How to pronounce hilarity in American English:
US [hɪˈlærəti]
-
- Noun:
- great merriment
Word Origin
- hilarity (n.)
- mid-15c., from Latin hilaritatem (nominative hilaritas) "cheerfulness, gaiety, merriment," from hilaris "cheerful, gay," from Greek hilaros "cheerful, gay, merry, joyous," related to hilaos "graceful, kindly." In ancient Rome, Hilaria (neuter plural of hilaris) were a class of holidays, times of pomp and rejoicing; there were public ones in honor of Cybele at the spring equinoxes as well as private ones on the day of a marriage or a son's birth.
Example
- 1. I joined in the laughter with more than a touch of nervous hilarity .
- 2. Still , celebrity shoplifting is a source of hilarity , not outrage .
- 3. When the family views the body , they go as a little army " full of bravado and hilarity " .
- 4. Happiness elation and even hilarity don 't quite fit to his mind .
- 5. In the meantime , check out this other bit of nasa promo hilarity : space your face , where an animated astronaut with whatever picture you want in its helmet boogies on the moon or mars .