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
scant
barely sufficient or adequate
nominal
existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously
meager
a small amount
pittance
a very small amount
titular
holding or constituting a purely formal position or title without any real authority, in title or name only
surfeit
an excessive amount
superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess
plethora
excess; overabundance
myriad
a countless or extremely great number
sate; satiate
satisfy fully; supply with as much as or more than is desired or can be managed
exorbiant
unreasonably high; excessive
gratuitous
freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted
supernumerary
more than the regular number
aggrandize
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
lagniappe
an extra or unexpected gift or gratuity, bonus
