Ris″i‐ble (?), a. [F., fr. L. risibilis, fr. ridere, risum, to laugh. Cf. Ridiculous.] 1. 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.
2. Exciting laughter; worthy to be laughed at; amusing. “Risible absurdities.” Johnson.
I hope you find nothing risible in my complaisance. Sir W. Scott.
3. Used in, or expressing, laughter; as, risible muscles.
☞ 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. 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.
—Ris″i‐ble‐ness(#), n. — Ris″i‐bly, adv.