Ris"i*ble (?), a. [F., fr. L. risibilis, fr. ridere, risum, to laugh. Cf. Ridiculous.]

1.

Having the faculty or power of laughing; disposed to laugh.

Laughing is our busines, . . . it has been made the definition of man that he is risible. Dr. H. More.

2.

Exciting laughter; worthy to be laughed at; amusing.

"Risible absurdities."

Johnson.

I hope you find nothing risible in my complaisance. Sir W. Scott.

3.

Used in, or expressing, laughter; as, risible muscles.

Risible is sometimes used as a noun, in the plural, for the feeling of amusement and for the muscles and other organs used in laughing, collectively; as, unable to control one's risibles.

Syn. -- Ludicrous; laughable; amusing; ridiculous -- Risible, Ludicrous, Ridiculous. Risible differs from ludicrous as species from genus; ludicrous expressing that which is playful and sportive; risible, that which may excite laughter. Risible differs from ridiculous, as the latter implies something contemptuous, and risible does not.

--Ris"i*ble*ness(#), n. -- Ris"i*bly, adv.

 

© Webster 1913.

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