n. [ See Ribibe. ] A small threestringed viol; a rebec. Moore (Encyc. of Music). [ 1913 Webster ]

All can be play on gittern or ribible. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., fr. L. risibilis, fr. ridere, risum, to laugh. Cf. Ridiculous. ] 1. Having the faculty or power of laughing; disposed to laugh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laughing is our busines, . . . it has been made the definition of man that he is risible. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exciting laughter; worthy to be laughed at; amusing. “Risible absurdities.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

I hope you find nothing risible in my complaisance. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Used in, or expressing, laughter; as, risible muscles. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Risible is sometimes used as a noun, in the plural, for the feeling of amusement and for the muscles and other organs used in laughing, collectively; as, unable to control one's risibles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Ludicrous; laughable; amusing; ridiculous -- Risible, Ludicrous, Ridiculous. Risible differs from ludicrous as species from genus; ludicrous expressing that which is playful and sportive; risible, that which may excite laughter. Risible differs from ridiculous, as the latter implies something contemptuous, and risible does not. [ 1913 Webster ]

--Ris"i*ble*nessn. -- Ris"i*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]