Unhumorous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Being devoid of any sense of humor or comedic value
2. Exhibiting a serious or solemn nature that lacks playfulness or wit
3. Not showing or containing anything amusing or funny in nature

Etymology: "Unhumorous" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "humorous," which in turn comes from "humour" and the Latin "umor," meaning moisture or fluid. The older sense of "humour" came from medieval physiology, where the four bodily fluids were thought to shape a person's temperament, so a "humorous" person was once one whose fluids were out of balance and who was therefore moody or eccentric. Only later did the word narrow toward amusement and wit. Because "humorous" had already shifted toward the sense of being funny, "unhumorous" naturally came to mean lacking that quality. It describes a person or work that is serious, solemn, or simply without playfulness.

Synonyms: serious, grave, sombre, dour, earnest

Antonyms: humorous, funny, witty, amusing, comedic