thurber: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “thurber” mean?
A surname, most famously associated with James Thurber, an American author and cartoonist.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surname, most famously associated with James Thurber, an American author and cartoonist.
Refers to a style of humor or writing characterized by whimsicality, satire, and everyday absurdities, akin to James Thurber's works.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly recognized and used in American English due to Thurber's American heritage; in British English, it is less familiar and often encountered in academic or literary contexts.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes mid-20th century literary humor and nostalgia; in British English, it may carry connotations of American cultural import.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, particularly in literature and media discussions; rare in everyday British English.
Grammar
How to Use “thurber” in a Sentence
refer to Thurberdiscuss Thurber's influencecite Thurber in essaysVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thurber” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not standardly used as a verb.
American English
- Not standardly used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Rarely used as an adverb.
American English
- Rarely used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- His humour has a Thurber-like quality.
American English
- She authored a Thurber-esque tale.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not applicable in standard business contexts.
Academic
Used in literature, American studies, humor theory, and cultural analysis courses.
Everyday
Uncommon; typically appears in conversations about books, humor, or historical figures.
Technical
Not applicable in scientific or technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thurber”
- Mispronouncing as 'thunder' or with a hard 'th' sound.
- Misspelling as 'Thurbar', 'Thurberr', or 'Thurbur'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
James Thurber was an American author, cartoonist, and humourist, renowned for his contributions to The New Yorker and his whimsical, satirical works.
In British English, pronounce it as /ˈθɜːbə/; in American English, as /ˈθɜːrbər/.
No, 'thurber' is primarily a proper noun (surname), though it can be used attributively to describe a style similar to James Thurber's.
Thurberesque is an adjective describing something that resembles or is characteristic of James Thurber's humour, often involving absurd, everyday situations.
A surname, most famously associated with James Thurber, an American author and cartoonist.
Thurber is usually formal/literary in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Thurber' rhyming with 'fur bearer', recalling James Thurber's fondness for drawing animals in his cartoons.
Conceptual Metaphor
Thurber as a metaphor for gentle, observational satire that highlights human eccentricities.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reference of 'thurber'?