hilarious English · revision 6763

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1823|origins=grc ἱλαρός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /hɪˈlɛə.ɹi.əs/ ''(UK)''; /hɪˈlɛ(ə)ɹ.i.əs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[la|hilaris|t=cheerful, merry]], a variant of hilarus,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) and [[-ous]];^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) the Latin word is from [[grc|ἱλαρός|tr=hilarós|t=cheerful]] (see [[hilarity]]).^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cheerful, cheery: 1823.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Boisterously joyful or merry is from 1835–40.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The main modern sense, extremely funny, dates from the 1920s.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1823 – cheerful.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1835 – boisterously merry.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1920s – extremely funny.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Extremely funny; causing great [[laughter]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Boisterously merry.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hilariously]]

+ * [[hilariousness]]

+ * [[hilarity]]

+ * [[unhilarious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[exhilarate]]

+ * [[exhilaration]]

+ * [[Hilary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}