vis comica

English

Etymology

Originating from an inaccurate interpretation of verses attributed to Julius Caesar: “Lenibus atque utinam scriptis adiuncta foret vis, Comica ut aequato virtus polleret honore Cum Graecis [...]”. An erroneous interpunction lead to mistaking cōmica as tied to vīs rather than to virtūs.

Noun

vis comica (uncountable)

1. Comic force.
   • 2002, Bees by Rudolf Steiner, A Review by Bobby Matherne‎^[1]:

     Also Steiner tells of someone who claimed that the comic elements comes about when someone has the vis comica, or "power of being comical." Again - the dormitive principle at work.