The Collaborative International Dictionary
Risible \Ris"i*ble\, a. [F., fr. L. risibilis, fr. ridere, risum, to laugh. Cf. Ridiculous.]
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Having the faculty or power of laughing; disposed to laugh.
Laughing is our busines, . . . it has been made the definition of man that he is risible.
--Dr. H. More. -
Exciting laughter; worthy to be laughed at; amusing. ``Risible absurdities.''
--Johnson.I hope you find nothing risible in my complaisance.
--Sir W. Scott. -
Used in, or expressing, laughter; as, risible muscles.
Note: Risible is sometimes used as a noun, in the plural, for the feeling of amusement and for the muscles and other organs used in laughing, collectively; as, unable to control one's risibles.
Syn: Ludicrous; laughable; amusing; ridiculous -- Risible, Ludicrous, Ridiculous.
Usage: Risible differs from ludicrous as species from genus; ludicrous expressing that which is playful and sportive; risible, that which may excite laughter. Risible differs from ridiculous, as the latter implies something contemptuous, and risible does not. [1913 Webster]
-- Ris"i*ble*ness, n. -- Ris"i*bly, adv.
Wiktionary
n. The quality of being risible.