cheerful, a.
(ˈtʃɪəfʊl)
Forms: 5 cher-, 5–6 chere-, 6 cheare-, 6–7 cheere-, 7–8 chearfull, (-ful, -fulle), cheerfull, 7– cheerful.
[f. cheer n.1 + -ful.]
1. Full of cheer; of good cheer; joyous, gladsome, blithe, lively and in good spirits. a. of persons, their disposition, looks, etc.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy xvii. 7500 Þen Achilles cherfull, & his choise cosyn. 1535 Coverdale Zech. ix. 17 The corne shall make the yonge men chearefull. 1568 Bible (Bishops') 2 Cor. ix. 7 God loueth a cheereful [ἱλαρος; Vulg. hilaris] geuer. 1650 R. Stapylton Strada's Low. C. Warres vi. 14 Egmont..soone grew cheerefuller then ever. 1660 Pepys Diary 13 Oct., I went out..to see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered..he looking as cheerful as any man could do in that condition. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 192 ¶4 A chearful Temper joined with Innocence, will make Beauty attractive. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits viii. Character Wks. (Bohn) II. 57 As compared with the Americans, I think them [English] cheerful and contented. |
b. transf. of things.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xvi. 87 Delighted with this cherefull and substanciall profession. 1596 Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 1 Chearefull Chaunticlere with his note shrill. 1649 Bp. Reynolds Hosea Serm. ii. 89 A full, chearfull, and voluntary action. 1697 Dryden Virg. Eclog. v. 90 With chearful Cries the Woods resound. 1726 Gay Fables i. xxxi. 14 Nor love, nor honour, wealth, nor pow'r, Can give the heart a chearful hour. 1796 Burke Regic. Peace i. Wks. VIII. 77 Our last conversation..was far from chearful. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 7 Cheerful hope and resignation. |
2. Cheering, gladdening, animating; bright, enlivening, raising the spirits.
| c 1460 Pol. Rel. & Love P., Love..maketh hem to obeye his ordynance by cherefulle weies. 1559 Myrr. Mag., Duke Suffolk v. 4 Fortune..Did smile upon me with a chereful light. 1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. i. xli, As when the cheerfull sunne, elamping wide, Glads all the world. a 1626 Bacon New Atl. 5 The Chambers were handsome and chearful Chambers. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 24/1 He died..of an Apoplexy, after a full and chearful Supper. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. 1842 I. 64 The good effects of more cheerful colours. 1814 Wordsw. Excursion ii. 514 Forth we stepped Into the presence of the cheerful light. 1855 A. Manning Chelsea Bun-house iv. 71, I don't care if I have a cheerful glass with you to improve our acquaintance. |