different between jocular vs druthers

English

Etymology

From Latin iocularis, from ioculus (“a little jest”), diminutive of iocus (“a jest”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d??kj?l?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?d??kj?l?/

Adjective

jocular (comparative more jocular, superlative most jocular)

1. Humorous, amusing or joking.

   He was in a jocular mood all day.

   All we had was a short and jocular conversation.

   • 1865, Horatio Alger, Paul Prescott's Charge, chapter IV:

     From the tone of the speaker, the last words might be understood to be jocular.

   • 1896, H. G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau, chapter 15:

     Sometimes he would notice it, pat it, call it half-mocking, half-jocular names, and so make it caper with extraordinary delight.

   • 1910, Stephen Leacock, The Awful Fate of Melpomenus Jones:

     Then papa began to get very tired of Jones, and fidgeted and finally said, with jocular irony, that Jones had better stay all night, they could give him a shake-down.

Synonyms

• (humorous): jokey, silly, joculous; see also Thesaurus:witty

Antonyms

• (humorous): heartfelt, serious, sincere

Derived terms

Related terms

• joke

Translations

Further reading

• jocular in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• jocular in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• jocular at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

From the expression "I'd rather" (meaning "I would prefer to") often pronounced "I druther" in some dialects.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d??ð?z/

Noun

druthers pl (plural only)

1. (US, informal, often jocular) Wishes, preferences, or ways.

   If I had my druthers I’d eat in a restaurant every night of the week.

   • 1929, Harry McClintock, "If I Had My Druthers"

     "If I had my druthers, I would not be a king. I'd druther be just what I am than any other thing."

Usage notes

• The singular form "druther" is used with the same meaning, but much more rarely.

• The noun "druthers" is sometimes used in conjunction with the verb "druther" for increased comic effect.

  If I've got my druthers, I'd druther not.

  or, alternatively,

  If I've got my druthers, I druther not.

This double formation was popularized by the American cartoonist Al Capp (1909-1979) in the long-running Li'l Abner comic strip and was also featured in the song "If I Had my Druthers" in Li'l Abner: The Musical (1956).

Related terms

• druther

References

• Merriam Webster