joke
UK[dʒəʊk]US[dʒoʊk]
n
something said or done to make people laugh, especially a funny story
v
to say or do things that are intended to be funny and not serious
Etymology
the word "joke" has a journey that obscures its original literal components. it entered middle english as "joke" or "jokke," borrowed from the latin "jocus," meaning a jest, joke, or pastime. this latin term is traced back to the proto-indo-european root yek-, meaning "to speak" or "to utter," which also gives us the word "yoke" through a different semantic path related to joining speech or tasks. over time, the meaning narrowed from general playful speech or amusement to its modern, specific sense of a verbal or acted witticism intended to provoke laughter. the transition from latin through old french ("joc") smoothed the form into the simple, unanalyzable english word we use today.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it entered english from latin via old french, with its core meaning related to amusement or jest.
Examples
he told a very funny joke at the party.
don't get upset, i was only joking.
the whole situation became a bit of a joke.