Humorous stories, remarks, or tricks intended to provoke laughter or amusement. Brief narratives with unexpected or clever endings designed to entertain.
From Latin 'jocus' meaning 'jest, sport, pastime' through Old French. The word entered English in the 17th century, initially referring to something said or done to provoke laughter, evolving from serious 'jest' to lighter 'joke.'
Jokes are fascinating because they rely on violated expectations - our brains find humor in the gap between what we predict and what actually happens. The structure of most jokes follows a setup-punchline format that mirrors how we process surprise in language and life.
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