Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hilarity” come from?

hilarity (English) comes from Latin hilaritas, from Latin hilaris, from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός, from Ancient Greek ἵλαος, from Proto-Indo-European sēlh₂- — to calm, quiet, be favourable.

hilarity (English): A great amount of amusement, usually accompanied...

Definitions

  1. A great amount of amusement, usually accompanied...

Ancestry of “hilarity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinhilaritascheerfulness, merriment, good humor
2Latinhilarischeerful, lively, light-hearted, merry
3Ancient Greekἱλαρόςcheerful, merry, joyous, glad, happy
4Ancient Greekἵλαοςpropitious, gracious, merciful; kind, mild,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeansēlh₂-to calm, quiet, be favourable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sēlh₂- →