- Merry
- Merry Mer"ry, a. [Compar. {Merrier}; superl. {Merriest}.] [OE.
merie, mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, AS. merge, myrige,
pleasant; cf. murge, adv.; prob. akin to OHG. murg, short,
Goth. gama['u]rgjan to shorten; cf. L. murcus a coward, who
cuts off his thumb to escape military service; the
Anglo-Saxon and English meanings coming from the idea of
making the time seem short. Cf. {Mirth}.]
1. Laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good
spirits; jovial; inclined to laughter or play; sportive.
[1913 Webster]
They drank, and were merry with him. --Gen. xliii. 34. [1913 Webster]
I am never merry when I hear sweet music. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy. [1913 Webster]
Is any merry? let him sing psalms. --Jas. v. 13. [1913 Webster]
3. Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, a merry jest. ``Merry wind and weather.'' --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
{Merry dancers}. See under {Dancer}.
{Merry men}, followers; retainers. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
{To make merry}, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. --Judg. ix. 27. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious; gleeful; joyous; mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.