• jocund •
Pronunciation: jo-kênd • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Cheerful, pleasant.
Notes: The trick in using today's word is not to confuse it with jocose or jocular. A jocose remark is a joke, but a jocund comment is simply a light-hearted, cheerful one. Neither of these two should be confused with jocular "joking, kidding", even though this meaning is very close to that of jocose. If they all sound like joke to you, today's Word History will explain why. You may also pronounce this word [jah-kênd].
In Play: Remember, jocundity is not humor: "Jocund humor is a much better mood enhancer than dark or sick humor any day of the week." Jocose is the word that implies humor: "Mary Dagai always starts the conversation with a jocose anecdote to set a jocund tone." There are many ways to be jocund without being jocular: " Frank Sanbeens is not a jocular person, but he has a naturally jocund personality that everyone likes."
Word History: Today's upbeat Good Word goes back to Latin jocundus "pleasant, agreeable", a variant of the earlier form jucundus, an adjective from the verb juvare "to help, please". The same root underlies Latin jocus "joke, jest." Jocundus also remains in Portuguese and Spanish as jocundo and in Italian, as giocondo, the feminine of which is the title of the famous opera by Ponchielli, La Gioconda "The Happy Girl". Latin also had a verb joculari "to joke, jest" which became Old French jogleor "jester, jokester" (Modern French jongleur) which English borrowed and polished into juggler. (We very seriously thank the jocund Chris Berry for suggesting today's jocular Good Word.)
JOCUND
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JOCUND
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Re: JOCUND
Wordsworth uses the word "jocund" in his famous poem, The Daffodils:
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:
He edited an earlier version of the poem, replacing "laughing" with "jocund." Why, do you suppose?
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:
He edited an earlier version of the poem, replacing "laughing" with "jocund." Why, do you suppose?
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Re: JOCUND
Poetry is like music - a matter of the ear. Jocund sounds better than laughing to my ear, plus to me it implies other jollities around the laughter.
pl
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Re: JOCUND
I agree, Perry. Jocund covers the entire gamut of fun and games, whereas laughter is only the ha-ha he-he audio bits.Poetry is like music - a matter of the ear. Jocund sounds better than laughing to my ear, plus to me it implies other jollities around the laughter.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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Re: JOCUND
The folks at the old Mad Magazine (see http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/1 ... -vein.html) created the word jocundular from jocund. Then they malaproped it into jugular. They named a section of the magazine, "Humor in a Jugular Vein." An eminent churchman, during an internecien struggle, announced he was going for the jugular of his opponents. He succeeded.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
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Re: JOCUND
Since I have limited mobility, I am not able to visit news stands. I will have my wife take me to get me a copy of Mad for old times sake.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
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Re: JOCUND
At last a word from Luke. But alas, the recondite fellow only wrote "reco." Coming back like the Cheshire Cat perhaps.
pl
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