The word “comedy” derives from the Ancient Greek word kōmōidía (κωμῳδία), a combination of two roots:
1. Kômos (κῶμος): This refers to a revel or festivity, often involving drinking, singing, and merriment.
2. ᾠδή (ōidē): Meaning “song,” which is also the root of the English word “ode.”
Together, kōmōidía literally means a “song of revelry” or “song of merriment.” It originally referred to theatrical performances that were lighthearted or humorous, often involving satirical elements, ridicule of public figures, or bawdy themes.
The term was first used to describe one of the two major types of drama in ancient Greece, the other being tragedy. While tragedy dealt with serious themes and the suffering of its protagonists, comedy celebrated the absurd, often resolving conflicts happily.
In Latin, the word was borrowed as comoedia, which passed into Old French as comedie, and then into Middle English as “comedy” by the late 14th century.
Over time, the meaning evolved to its modern usage, encompassing anything humorous or designed to amuse, not just in theater but in literature, film, and other forms of art.