ridibund means inclined to and easily brought to laughter; happy. It carries an Arena rating of 1716, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, ridibund ranks #1,395 of 17,120 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,764 of 17,128 for Most Whimsical Words, #1,915 of 17,140 for The Improbable, #7,589 of 17,130 for Most Ingenious Words.
ridibund is pronounced /ˈɹɪdɪbʌnd/.
Why “ridibund” is a great word
Inclined to and easily brought to laughter; mirthful. From the Latin rīdibundus, from rīdeō ('to laugh') + the adjective-forming suffix -bundus ('inclined to'). Unlike 'jovial,' which suggests a hearty cheerfulness rooted in disposition, or 'risible,' which now more often denotes something laughable than someone prone to laughter, 'ridibund' names a specific physiological readiness for mirth. It is the guest who snorts at an accidental pun, the commuter grinning at a child's solemn imitation, or the mourner laughing helplessly at an inappropriate memory—a threshold perpetually lowered, the spirit's irrepressible escape valve kept oiled and waiting.
Etymology
From the Latin rīdibundus, from rīdeō (“to laugh”) + -bundus.
adj
- Inclined to and easily brought to laughter; happy.
Words closest in meaning
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