fiske 53, 54, 55 Flashcards
raconteur
a person who inspires laughter through his or her verbal talents, a storyteller
harlequin
recognizable by his clothing of brightly colored diamond shapes and his mask; a clown figure in Italian acting troupes several centuries ago
card
a person who is not a professional clown but is eccentrically amusing in his or her behavior
wag
a habitual joker, a bit silly, mischievous
wit
quality of being verbally clever, also can denote a person who is intelligently and subtly amusing
mountebank
A hawker of quack medicines who attracts customers with stories, jokes, or tricks; A flamboyant charlatan; A quack who prescribes and sells nostrums at fairs and similar gatherings.
droll
having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality
antics
acts that are perceived as either amusing or not, depending on the context or on the personality of the beholder
prankster
someone who plays pranks which may or may not be perceived as humorous
stooge
one who plays a subordinate, compliant role to another, a puppet; in comedy, one who helps the main act be funny by feeding her “straight” lines
dearth
not enough of something or simply none of it
paucity
an inadequate quantity, scarcity
exiguous
scanty, meager, small, slender; barely enough
eke
to obtain or create, but just barely
stint
to limit, be sparing or frugal; (n.) a limit or restriction; a fixed share of work or duty; a period of activity
