comic

comic
comic, comical
These two words overlap in meaning, but comic is the more common of the two and is the only one with the purely descriptive meaning ‘relating to or in the nature of comedy’, as in comic actor and comic opera. Comical is a more evaluative word, meaning ‘funny, causing laughter’, as in comical appearance and a comical situation; comic can also have this meaning but is often taken to imply intention rather than effect. The following examples demonstrate the different perspectives of these words in this meaning:

• Both brothers laughed out loud at the deliberately comic delivery of his English phrases as they shook hands —A. Grey, 1983

• In reality, the relationship was a strained and sometimes comical mismatch, a 50-year-long saga of crossed purposes —Daily Telegraph, 1992

• He wiped his head, looking almost comical in his shorts and sandals —N. Barber, 1992

• Simply said, this anthology is too long. None of it lacks literary charm, that is certain; but much of it lacks any actual comic element —First Things Magazine, 2005.


Modern English usage. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Comic — ist der gängige Begriff für eine Form der sequenziellen Kunst, die in einer Folge von Bildern einen Vorgang beschreibt oder eine Geschichte erzählt. In der Regel sind die Bilder gezeichnet und werden mit erzählendem Text und/oder wörtlicher Rede… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Comic — signifie aussi comique en anglais. Comic est le terme généralement utilisé aux États Unis pour désigner une bande dessinée. La bande dessinée ayant eu du mal à se faire reconnaître comme un art à part entière, le terme a une connotation d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • comic — CÓMIC, Ă, comici, ce, adj., subst. 1. adj. Care aparţine comediei1, de comedie, relativ la comedie. ♦ Care provoacă râsul; hazliu, ridicol. 2. s.m. Actor care interpretează roluri de comedie1. 3. S .n. Categorie estetică în a cărei sferă intră… …   Dicționar Român

  • Comic LO — Logo of magazine First issue October 2002 (2002 October) Company Akane Shinsha Country Japan …   Wikipedia

  • comic — (adj.) late 14c., of comedy in the dramatic sense, from L. comicus, from Gk. komikos of or pertaining to comedy, from komos (see COMEDY (Cf. comedy)). Meaning intentionally funny first recorded 1791, and comedic (1630s) has since picked up the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • comic — [käm′ik] adj. [ME comice < L comicus < Gr kōmikos < kōmos, revel] 1. of, like, or having to do with comedy 2. amusing or intended to be amusing; humorous; funny 3. of comic strips or cartoons n. 1. a comedian 2. the hum …   English World dictionary

  • Comic — Comic: Das Fremdwort ist eine seit der Mitte des 20. Jh.s nachgewiesene Entlehnung aus gleichbed. engl. comic. Dieses wiederum ist die Kürzung der in der 1. Hälfte des 20. Jh.s verwendeten Bezeichnung comic strip (im Dt. auch »Comicstrip«), aus… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • Comic — Com ic (k[o^]m [i^]k), a. [L. comicus pertaining to comedy, Gr. kwmiko s: cf. F. comique. See {Comedy}.] 1. Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy. [1913 Webster] I can not for the stage a drama lay, Tragic or comic, but thou writ st the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • comic — [n] funny person, often professional banana*, buffoon*, card*, clown, comedian, droll, humorist, jester, joker, jokester, life of the party*, million laughs*, quipster, stand up comic, stooge*, top banana*, wag*, wit*; concepts 352,423 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • comic — / kɒmik/, it. / kɔmik/ s. ingl. [abbrev. della locuz. comic strip nastro comico ], usato in ital. al masch. [racconto comico a fumetti] ▶◀ fumetto, (fam.) giornaletto, giornalino …   Enciclopedia Italiana

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