Hu"mor (?), n. [OE. humour, OF.
humor, umor, F. humeur, L. humor,
umor, moisture, fluid, fr. humere, umere, to be
moist. See Humid.] [Written also humour.]
1. Moisture, especially, the moisture or fluid
of animal bodies, as the chyle, lymph, etc.; as, the humors of
the eye, etc.
☞ The ancient physicians believed that there were four humors
(the blood, phlegm, yellow bile or choler, and black bile or
melancholy), on the relative proportion of which the temperament and
health depended.
2. (Med.) A vitiated or morbid animal
fluid, such as often causes an eruption on the skin. "A body
full of humors." Sir W. Temple.
3. State of mind, whether habitual or
temporary (as formerly supposed to depend on the character or
combination of the fluids of the body); disposition; temper; mood;
as, good humor; ill humor.
Examine how your humor is inclined,
And which the ruling passion of your mind.
Roscommon.
A prince of a pleasant humor.
Bacon.
I like not the humor of lying.
Shak.
4. pl. Changing and uncertain states
of mind; caprices; freaks; vagaries; whims.
Is my friend all perfection, all virtue and
discretion? Has he not humors to be endured?
South.
5. That quality of the imagination which
gives to ideas an incongruous or fantastic turn, and tends to excite
laughter or mirth by ludicrous images or representations; a playful
fancy; facetiousness.
For thy sake I admit
That a Scot may have humor, I'd almost said wit.
Goldsmith.
A great deal of excellent humor was expended on
the perplexities of mine host.
W. Irving.
Aqueous humor, Crystalline
humor or lens, Vitreous
humor. (Anat.) See Eye. --
Out of humor, dissatisfied; displeased; in an
unpleasant frame of mind.
Syn. -- Wit; satire; pleasantry; temper; disposition; mood;
frame; whim; fancy; caprice. See Wit.
Hu"mor (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Humored (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Humoring.] 1. To comply with the humor
of; to adjust matters so as suit the peculiarities, caprices, or
exigencies of; to adapt one's self to; to indulge by skillful
adaptation; as, to humor the mind.
It is my part to invent, and the musician's to
humor that invention.
Dryden.
2. To help on by indulgence or compliant
treatment; to soothe; to gratify; to please.
You humor me when I am sick.
Pope.
Syn. -- To gratify; to indulge. See Gratify.