comedian English · revision 10803

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1581|origins=frm comédien}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈmiː.di.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|comédien]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from comédie, comedy (see [[comedy]]), and -ien (see [[-ian]]).^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A writer of comedies, a comic poet: 1581 in the OED, the 1580s in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster gives 1580.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An actor in stage comedies is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) 1601 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and one who plays a part in real life from 1673.^(OED 1989) The professional entertainer who tells jokes to make an audience laugh is from 1898,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the late 19th century in the NODE.^(NODE 1998) Old English had heahtorsmið, “laughter-maker”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1581 – a comic poet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – a comic actor.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1673 – a pretender in real life.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1898 – a comic entertainer.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An entertainer who tells jokes or performs comic acts.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An actor in [[comedy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An amusing person; a [[clown]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[comedy]]

+ * [[comic]]

+ * [[comedienne]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}