Laughless

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈlæfləs/

Definitions

1. Marked by an absence of laughter or humor, contributing to a tone that is often serious or melancholic
2. Describing a state in which joy and amusement are missing, leading to a distinctly grave or solemn atmosphere
3. Characterized by a lack of laughter or cheerful expressions, resulting in an overall serious or somber mood

Etymology: "Laughless" is a plain formation: the noun "laugh" with the suffix "-less," which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "without" that thing. So a laughless place or person is one without laughter. The suffix itself is Old English in origin, descending from a word meaning "loose" or "lacking" and showing up in countless English words such as "careless," "hopeless," and "endless." Attaching it to "laugh" is an ordinary bit of English word-building, which is why the word needs no special story to explain it. The word is used mainly to describe a mood or setting rather than a single action. Because "-less" describes absence, the word tends to be applied to tones that feel solemn or gloomy, where humor has been drained out of a scene. Its meaning follows directly from its parts: nothing in the formation shifts or reverses, so the word means exactly what the two pieces suggest.

Synonyms: sorrowful, miserable

Antonyms: joyful, cheerful