seriocomic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   combining serious and comic elements, subjects, or moods

   The play adopts a seriocomic tone, moving between grief and absurd humor.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: a variety performer, especially a woman, whose acting or singing combined serious and comic material

   The program billed her as a seriocomic before the main dramatic act.

Formed from serio-, a combining form of serious, + comic. The adjective names a deliberate mixture of gravity and humor; the historical noun is a substantivized use for a variety-hall performer who worked in that mixed mode.

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