comedy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun light and humorous drama with a happy ending
  2. noun a comic incident or series of incidents
    funniness; drollery; clowning.

WordNet

Com"e*dy noun
Etymology
F. comédie, L. comoedia, fr. Gr. a jovial festivity with music and dancing, a festal procession an ode sung at this procession (perh. akin to village, E. home) + to sing; for comedy was originally of a lyric character. See Home, and Ode.
Wordforms
plural Comedies
Definitions
  1. A dramatic composition, or representation of a bright and amusing character, based upon the foibles of individuals, the manners of society, or the ludicrous events or accidents of life; a play in which mirth predominates and the termination of the plot is happy; -- opposed to tragedy.
    With all the vivacity if comedy. Macaulay.
    Are come to play a pleasant comedy. Shak.

Webster 1913