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risible

1. Having the faculty or power of laughing; disposed to laugh. Laughing is our busines, . . . It has been made the definition of man that he is risible. (dr. H. More)

2. Exciting laughter; worthy to be laughed at; amusing. Risible absurdities. I hope you find nothing risible in my complaisance. (Sir W. Scott)

3. Used in, or expressing, laughter; as, risible muscles.

Risible is sometimes used as a noun, in the plural, for the feeling of amusement and for the muscles and other organs used in laughing, collectively; as, unable to control one's risibles.

Synonym: Ludicrous, laughable, amusing, ridiculous Risible, Ludicrous, Ridiculous.

Risible differs from ludicrous as species from genus; ludicrous expressing that which is playful and sportive; risible, that which may excite laughter. Risible differs from ridiculous, as the latter implies something contemptuous, and risible does not. Risibleness, Risibly.

Origin: F, fr. L. Risibilis, fr. Ridere, risum, to laugh. Cf. Ridiculous.