Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Gladness and merriment, especially when expressed by laughter.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To please or make merry.
- To rejoice.
- noun Pleasure; joy.
- noun A state or feeling of merriment; demonstrative gaiety; jollity; hilarity.
- noun A cause or subject of merriment: that which excites gaiety or laughter.
- noun Synonyms Mirth, Cheerfulness.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Merriment; gayety accompanied with laughter; jollity.
- noun obsolete That which causes merriment.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The
emotion usually followinghumour and accompanied bylaughter ;merriment ;jollity ;gaiety . - noun That which causes merriment.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun great merriment
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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II. i.27 (220,2) [I was then frugal of my mirth] By breaking this speech into exclamations, the text may stand; but I once thought it must be read, If _I was_ not _then frugal of my mirth_.
Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies Samuel Johnson 1746
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_mirth_ it may be derived from _uaim-mir_, i.e. loud mirth, gaiety.
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In theatre three, Cleo plays her usual part: "If we find him sad,/Say we am dancing; if in mirth, report/That we am conspicuous sick."
Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009
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I must say that it was time well spent, my mirth is gigantic!
Not Quite Conan - Web Comics Edition! Cromsblood 2010
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In theatre three, Cleo plays her usual part: "If we find him sad,/Say we am dancing; if in mirth, report/That we am conspicuous sick."
Philadelphia Reflections: Shakspere Society of Philadelphia admin 2009
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So she took her lute and made them such melody that had caused the hardest rocks to dance with glee; and they passed the night in mirth and merriment, converse and good cheer, till morn appeared with its sheen and shone, when the Caliph laid an hundred gold pieces under the prayer-carpet and all, after taking leave of Ala al-Din, went their way.
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Hardly had he left the door than the woman went for her old lover, who returned with her and they passed the night together in mirth and merriment, while the parrot observed all.
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Then Nasir set the trays before them and welcomed them; so they ate and drank and sat in mirth and merriment; after which the trays and the platters were removed and they washed their hands.
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When he heard her words, his breast broadened and he laughed for joy till he showed his teeth; and they abode thus awhile in mirth and gladness and frolic.
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They sat in mirth and good cheer till noon, when they brought them up the midday meal, all manner meats and sweetmeats of the very best; and they ate and drank costly sherbets and perfumed themselves thereafter with rose-water and scented woods.
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word mirth
I always though mirth had a derisive attachment.
July 26, 2009