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�xa3;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.

They drank, and were merry with him. Gen. xliii. 34.

I am never merry when I hear sweet music. Shak.

2.

Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy.

Is any merry let him sing psalms. Jas. v. 13.

3.

Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, merry jest.

"Merry wind and weather."

Spenser.

Merry dancers. See under Dancer. -- Merry men, followers; retainers. [Obs.]

His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. Chaucer.

-- To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judg. ix. 27.

Syn. -- Cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious; gleeful; joyous; mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious.

 

© Webster 1913.


Mer"ry (?), n. Bot.

A kind of wild red cherry.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.