[ad. L. joculāris facetious, f. joculus, dim. of jocus joke, jest.]
1. Of persons or their dispositions: Disposed to joking or jesting; speaking or acting in jest or merriment; mirthful, merry.
1626. B. Jonson, Fortunate Isles, 56. My name is Johphiel … An airy jocular spirit.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Warwickshire (1662), 126. Though his [Shakespeare’s] Genius generally was jocular, and inclining him to festivity, yet he could … be solemn and serious.
1716. Addison, Drummer, II. i. He, he, he! pardon me for being jocular.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria, II. 136. He joined, with the best grace he could assume, in the merriment of the jocular giant.
2. Of speech or action: Of the nature of, or containing, a joke; said or done in joke; comic, humorous, funny.
1674. Govt. Tongue, 128. Many can sooner forgive a solemn deep contrivance against them, then one of their jocular reproches.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith. (1690), 65. To … interpose a jocular, and perhaps ridiculous digression.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), II. 12. You that delight in a jocular Song.
1826. Sheridaniana, 160. Sheridan made some jocular reply.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, l. 6. Launched one arrowy metre and another, Tenders jocular o’er the merry wine-cup.
Hence Jocularness = next (Bailey, vol. II., 1727).
