So what is a humoroid, you might ask?
I suspect many of you can guess what a humoroid is, but before trying to define it, let me provide some nourishing thoughts.
Webster’s dictionary defines the suffix -oid as: resembling or like, having an incomplete or imperfect resemblance — not a perfect definition, but we’ll work with it.
Some (attempted) definitions of words using this suffix include:
A spheroid is a solid object having the shape of a sphere.
An ellipsoid is a solid object something like a squashed spheroid in one or more directions.
– or maybe you could think of it as an imperfect spheroid?
Astronomy has problems with some of these terms:
– they call a planetoid a small planetary-type body, which is also the definition of an asteroid.
– then you have plutoids, which are dwarf planets farther from the sun than Neptune.
– even smaller bodies moving through space are meteoroids.
A humanoid is an organism which resembles the human form — i.e. having two arms, legs, etc.
Some of these -oids are more intellectual – i.e., mind or brain things.
A factoid, which is a brief statement of something represented as a “truth” or as a “fact”.
Maybe we need a FAQtoid as well?
A fictoid, which is a brief fictional statement, possibly involving some historical event.
Today, we have android.
At the other end, there is a something called a hemorrhoid. This is a bothersome bodily problem, which can be painful, and may even be life-threatening in the extreme.
A humoroid is something in between. It may be felt in the head, at the other end, or at a gut level.
As you certainly noticed, the base word is humor. That is the primary intent here. It is at least an attempt to be funny or humorous, even if only in my own way. It may do this through sarcasm, parody, caricature, jokes, or other forms.
A humoroid could be a brief statement, like a factoid or fictoid, or something a little longer.
A humoroid could be somewhat painful, like a psychological hemorrhoid, for those who don’t take it for what it is, or who might disagree with what it says.
May those who have a hemorrhoid reaction to humoroids be unable to avoid them and forced to stand on their heads for long periods of time so they learn to appreciate being right side up. May the humoroids continue to bother them.
There are a lot of other -oids to worry about, but this is sufficient for now.
Maybe I should add an additional warning? Humoroid will not always be pg-13 rated.