different between skeptic vs jocular

English

Alternative forms

• sceptic (British)

Etymology

From Latin *scepticus, (attested only in plural Sceptici (“the sect of Skeptics”)), from Ancient Greek ????????? (skeptikós, “thoughtful, inquiring”), from ????????? (sképtomai, “I consider”), compare to ?????? (skopé?, “I view, examine”). (Note: In French, C in front of E and I had shifted (or was shifting) from the original [k] sound of Latin to the [s] sound, which might explain the double spelling, as some might have wanted to make sure that [k] would remain [k] by bringing back the K from the Greek spelling.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sk?p.t?k/

Noun

skeptic (plural skeptics) (American spelling)

1. Someone who habitually doubts beliefs and claims presented as accepted by others, requiring strong evidence before accepting any belief or claim.
2. Someone undecided as to what is true.
3. A type of agnostic; someone skeptical towards religion.

Related terms

• skeptical
• skepticism

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “skeptic”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• skeptic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• skeptic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• skeptic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• pickest, pickets, septick, spicket

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