festive, a.
(ˈfɛstɪv)
[ad. L. festīv-us, f. festum: see feast and -ive. Cf. F. festif.]
1. Of or pertaining to a feast; such as befits a feast.
| 1651 Sherburne tr. Martial's Epigr. ii. xli, All festive jollities forbear. 1744 Thomson Summer 400 The glad Circle..yield their Souls To festive Mirth. 1791 Burke Th. French Affairs Wks. 1842 I. 578 The appointment of festive anniversaries. 1829 Lytton Disowned 56 The anointed ones were in purple and festive pomp. a 1839 Praed Poems (1864) II. 108 Around the festive board. 1869 Boutell Arms & Arm. ii. 36 The Grecian festive games. 1888 A. K. Green Behind Closed Doors iv, A festive scene burst upon them. |
b. Mirthful, joyous, glad, cheerful.
| 1774 Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. ii. 4/1 His vein was chiefly festive and satirical. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey v. xi, Her air was not festive, she seemed abstracted and disturbed. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. v. 104 The festive character which ran through the whole transaction. |
2. Of persons: Employed in, or fond of feasting; convivial, jovial. Of a place or season: Appropriated or devoted to feasting.
the festive season: spec. = ‘Christmas-tide’.
| 1735 Nixon To W. Somervile in Somervile Chase, The festive Night awakes th' harmonious Lay. 1770 Goldsm. Des. Vill. 226 The parlour splendours of that festive place. 1801 Southey Thalaba vi, On silken carpets sate the festive train. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 353 The new magistrates..belonged to a more festive party. 1857 Willmott Pleas. Lit. xxi. 130 A short review of his friend's festive evenings. |
Hence ˈfestively adv., in a festive manner.
| 1806 Wordsw. ‘Where lies the Land’, Festively she [a ship] puts forth in trim array. 1883 Pall Mall G. 20 Nov. 5/1 After studying his pages one may..keep festively the birthdays of Fräulein Goethe's acquaintances. |