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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.
1651Sherburne tr. Martial's Epigr. ii. xli, All festive jollities forbear. 1744Thomson Summer 400 The glad Circle..yield their Souls To festive Mirth. 1791Burke Th. French Affairs Wks. 1842 I. 578 The appointment of festive anniversaries. 1829Lytton Disowned 56 The anointed ones were in purple and festive pomp. a1839Praed Poems (1864) II. 108 Around the festive board. 1869Boutell Arms & Arm. ii. 36 The Grecian festive games. 1888A. K. Green Behind Closed Doors iv, A festive scene burst upon them.
b. Mirthful, joyous, glad, cheerful.
1774Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. ii. 4/1 His vein was chiefly festive and satirical. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey v. xi, Her air was not festive, she seemed abstracted and disturbed. 1862Stanley 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’.
1735Nixon To W. Somervile in Somervile Chase, The festive Night awakes th' harmonious Lay. 1770Goldsm. Des. Vill. 226 The parlour splendours of that festive place. 1801Southey Thalaba vi, On silken carpets sate the festive train. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 353 The new magistrates..belonged to a more festive party. 1857Willmott Pleas. Lit. xxi. 130 A short review of his friend's festive evenings.
Hence ˈfestively adv., in a festive manner.
1806Wordsw. ‘Where lies the Land’, Festively she [a ship] puts forth in trim array. 1883Pall Mall G. 20 Nov. 5/1 After studying his pages one may..keep festively the birthdays of Fräulein Goethe's acquaintances. |