entry
hilarity
/hɪˈlærəti/Lively amusement or boisterous laughter
From Greek, via Latin hilar- (Cheerful).
from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful”). By surface analysis, Latin hilar(ō) + -i- + -ty.
from Latin hilaritās (“cheerfulness”)
Word Ancestry
from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful”). By surface analysis, Latin hilar(ō) + -i- + -ty.
from Latin hilaritās (“cheerfulness”)
A cheerful Greek word, hilarós, passed into Latin as hilaris, and from it Romans made hilaritās: cheerfulness, or merriment. The Romans even had festivals called Hilaria, celebrated for Cybele around the spring equinox with public rejoicing; the name sounds like a party invitation from antiquity. English picked up hilarity by the mid-15th century, keeping the old sense of high spirits rather than simply “something funny.” Etymonline also suggests a possible deeper connection with words for appeasing or reconciling—an intriguing hint that hilarity may have once carried the warmth of making peace, not just making people laugh.
The Story
A cheerful Greek word, hilarós, passed into Latin as hilaris, and from it Romans made hilaritās: cheerfulness, or merriment. The Romans even had festivals called Hilaria, celebrated for Cybele around the spring equinox with public rejoicing; the name sounds like a party invitation from antiquity. English picked up hilarity by the mid-15th century, keeping the old sense of high spirits rather than simply “something funny.” Etymonline also suggests a possible deeper connection with words for appeasing or reconciling—an intriguing hint that hilarity may have once carried the warmth of making peace, not just making people laugh.
Modern Usage
A humorous or chaotic situation, often used in the phrase “hilarity ensues.”
Notable References
- The phrase “hilarity ensues”
Kin & Kindred
From 'hilar-'·Cheerful, merry; the basis for a noun meaning cheerfulness
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Urban Dictionary
Wiktionary