Comic

[kom-ik] /ˈkɒm ɪk/

adjective
1.
of, relating to, or characterized by :
comic opera.
2.
of or relating to a person who acts in or writes :
a comic actor; a comic dramatist.
3.
of, relating to, or characteristic of :
comic situations; a comic sense.
4.
provoking laughter; humorous; funny; laughable.
noun
5.
a comedian.
6.
.
7.
comics, comic strips.
8.
the comic, the element or quality of in literature, art, drama, etc.:
An appreciation of the comic came naturally to her.
/ˈkɒmɪk/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, characterized by, or characteristic of comedy
2.
(prenominal) acting in, writing, or composing comedy: a comic writer
3.
humorous; funny
noun
4.
a person who is comic, esp a comic actor; comedian
5.
a book or magazine containing comic strips
6.
(usually pl) (mainly US & Canadian) comic strips in newspapers, etc
adj.

late 14c., “of comedy in the dramatic sense,” from Latin comicus “of comedy, represented in comedy, in comic style,” from Greek komikos “of or pertaining to comedy,” from komos (see comedy). Meaning “intentionally funny” first recorded 1791, and comedic (1630s) has since picked up the older sense of the word.

Speaking of the masters of the comedic spirit (if I call it, as he does, the Comic Spirit, this darkened generation will suppose me to refer to the animal spirits of tomfools and merryandrews) …. [G.B. Shaw, 1897]

Something that is comic has comedy as its aim or origin; something is comical if the effect is comedy, whether intended or not.

n.

“a comedian” is from 1580s, from comic (adj.). Latin adjective comicus also meant “a comic poet, writer of comedies.” Meaning “a comic book or comic strip” is from 1889 (Comic strip first attested 1920; comic book is from 1941). Comic relief is attested from 1825.