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chortle

verb

/ˈtʃɔːtl/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of chortle

To chuckle, laugh, or express amusement in a joyful and somewhat gleeful manner.
"She couldn't help but chortle at the silly joke."

Detailed meaning of chortle

When someone chortles, they emit a combination of laughter and chuckling, often accompanied by a sense of satisfaction or delight. The term "chortle" suggests a hearty and spontaneous reaction to something funny or amusing, and it conveys a sense of infectious mirth. People might chortle when they encounter humor that particularly tickles their funny bone or when they find something genuinely hilarious. It's a word that captures the exuberant and carefree spirit of laughter, making it a delightful and vivid way to express the joyous act of laughing.

Example sentences containing chortle

1. Whenever he hears a clever pun, I bet he will chortle with delight.
2. Don't chortle at your sister's mistakes; it's not kind.
3. I dare you to chortle in the face of this overwhelming challenge!
4. Will you chortle when you read my new comic book?
5. They always chortle during the comedian's performances.
6. You might chortle when you realize how silly you've been.

History and etymology of chortle

The verb 'chortle' has an etymology that is whimsically descriptive of the sound it represents. It was coined by the author Lewis Carroll in his poem 'Jabberwocky,' published in his 1871 book 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.' In this poem, Carroll playfully combined the words 'chuckle' and 'snort' to create the nonsensical but vivid word 'chortle.' It captures the idea of laughing or expressing amusement in a joyful and somewhat gleeful manner, often accompanied by a characteristic sound that combines the elements of both chuckling and snorting. While 'chortle' may have originated as a whimsical invention, it has since found its way into the English language to describe moments of hearty and joyful laughter that evoke a sense of delight and mirth. Thus, the etymology of 'chortle' underscores its playful and imaginative origins, reflecting its capacity to convey the joyous and often infectious nature of laughter.

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Further usage examples of chortle

1. We chortle at the absurdity of life sometimes.
2. If you could chortle at your own blunders, you would be much happier.
3. Most children chortle when they see a clown's funny antics.
4. It's difficult to chortle when you're in a bad mood, isn't it?
5. I wonder if he will chortle when he sees the unexpected gift.
6. Sometimes, we chortle at jokes not because they're funny, but because they're so terrible.
7. She loves to chortle at the mischievous antics of her cat.
8. Please, chortle at my jokes tonight; it's my first stand-up performance.
9. They often chortle during the weekly stand-up meetings at work.
10. If we didn't chortle at our own misfortunes, we might cry.
11. The best friends chortle together, even when no one else understands their humor.
12. We should all chortle more - it's good for the soul!
13. When you chortle at his absurdity, it encourages him more.
14. To chortle is to express genuine joy and mirth.
15. The old man let out a deep chortle as he read the newspaper.
16. The sound of his chortle could be heard echoing through the corridors.
17. His chortle was a sign of his amusement.
18. The chortle of the bird outside the window woke me up this morning.
19. The sound of her chortle filled the room with joy.
20. The chortle that escaped her lips was a sign of her amusement.
21. The chortle of the baby made everyone in the room smile.
22. The chortle of the hyena could be heard in the distance.