Comity and comedy are two words that are very close in pronunciation, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. We will examine the definitions of comity and comedy, where these two words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Comity means civility or courteous behavior toward each other. Comity is also a term used to describe a relationship between countries in which each country recognizes the laws and customs of the other countries as legitimate. Comity may also be used to mean an agreement between Christian churches not to proselytize each other’s members. The word comity came into use in the 1400s, derived from the Latin word comitas which means kindness or courtesy.
Comedy is entertainment that is meant to amuse a crowd or to make them laugh. Comedy is used as a mass noun, which is a noun that does not have a plural form, when used to mean the genre of comedy. A comedy is used as a countable noun to refer to a book, play, film, Broadway show, television program, etc. There are many different art forms that provide humor and laughter, all of them are considered comedy if the aim is to be amusing. Comedy is delivered on television in a sitcom or sketch show with the aim to be a spoof or satire, especially a politically astute late show. Stand-up comedy shows take place in a comedy club such as the Laugh Factory. Comedians or comics who began their careers by performing without a script on open mic night include Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld and Amy Schumer. Today, an entertainer such as Mike Birbiglia may end up with a one-man comedy show on Broadway. The word comedy is derived from the Greek word kōmōidia, which means comic poet. The plural of comedy is comedies, the person who delivers jokes and amusement is called a comedian. Occasionally, the word comedienne is used for a female person who delivers jokes and amusement, however, increasingly women are also referred to as comedians.
Examples
In an interview, Schiff insisted that his first priority is to restore “comity” to what is arguably the most fractious committee in Congress. (The Finger Lakes Times)
California‘s outgoing governor, Democrat Jerry Brown, said Wednesday the deeply divided nation needs to find comity and common ground, even as his state’s aggressive confrontation of President Donald Trump looks to accelerate under his successor. (U.S. News & World Report)
DELTA State governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, has said Nigeria would attract direct foreign investment and earn more respect among comity of nations if the 2019 general election is free and credible. (Vanguard)
There had been some question about whether or not the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presides over the Globes, would be willing to classify the show as a comedy series, as it blends scripted and documentary-style footage. (The Hollywood Reporter)
He was a regular at the Comedy Works clubs in Denver and coordinated “new talent nights” there for many years. (The Norfolk Daily News)