seriocomic

English

Adjective

seriocomic (comparative more seriocomic, superlative most seriocomic)

1. Having both serious and comedic qualities or tendencies.

   Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a seriocomic romp through the summer of a group of teenagers.

   • 2005, John W. Velz, “Adoxography as Mode of Discourse for Satan and His Underlings in Medieval Plays”, in Clifford Davidson, editor, The Dramatic Tradition of the Middle Ages [AMS Studies in the Middle Ages; 26], New York, N.Y.: AMS Press, →ISBN, page 102:

     In the N-Town Passion Play I, Lucifer is an implied presenter of the play and an implied controller of its events. He addresses the audience directly and confidentially in an extraordinary 124-line adoxograph which is part social satire and part seriocomic plea for our commitment to his suzerainty […]

Synonyms

• ludicroserious
• seriocomedic

Translations

having both serious and comedic qualities or tendencies

• Occitan: serio-comic
• Portuguese: sério-cômico
• Spanish: jocoserio (es)

Noun

seriocomic (plural seriocomics)

1. (now historical) A seriocomic performer; especially, a female variety performer working in seriocomic acting and singing. [from 19th c.]
   • 1915, W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, chapter 107:

     One day, when Philip had been at the shop for five months, Miss Alice Antonia, the well-known seriocomic, came in and asked to see Mr Sampson.

See also

• dramedy
• tragicomedy