Cōm'e-dy, n.

n. [Fr. comédie, Lat. comœdia, Gr. κωμῳδία, from κῶμος, a jovial festivity with music and dancing, a festal procession, an ode sung at this procession, and ἀείδω, to sing; for comedy was originally of a lyric character.] A dramatic composition of a light and amusing character, illustrative of the foibles of individuals, the manners of society, or the ludicrous accidents of life.

The earlier chapters [of the Vicar of Wakefield] have all the sweetness of pastoral poetry, together with all the vivacity of comedy. Macaulay.