请输入您要查询的英文单词：

　

单词 merry
释义

merryn.

Brit. /ˈmɛri/, U.S. /ˈmɛri/
Origin: Probably a borrowing from French. Etymon: French merise.
Etymology: Probably < Old French merise merise n., perhaps with folk-etymological alteration after merry adj., or perhaps as a result of merise being apprehended as a plural.
Now chiefly British regional.
The gean or wild cherry, Prunus avium (also merry-tree). Also: the small, usually black fruit of this tree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > cherry > types of cherry
black cherry1530
geana1533
Plinian1577
mazzard1578
mazardc1595
merry1595
Flanders cherry1597
heart cherry1599
cherrylet1605
agriot1611
morel1611
cœur-cherry1626
bigarreau1629
May-cherry1629
morello1629
urinal cherry1629
white-heart cherry1629
duracine1655
heart1658
black heart1664
carnation1664
duke1664
honey cherrya1671
nonsuch1674
merise1675
red-hearta1678
prince royal1686
lukeward1707
white-heart1707
May duke1718
Royal Ann1724
ox-heart1731
ratafia1777
choke-cherry1785
mountain cherry1811
rum cherry1818
sour cherry1884
Napoleon1886
Napoleon cherry1933
1595 G. Chapman Ouids Banquet of Sence sig. B2v White and red Iessamines, Merry, Melliphill.
1650 W. How Phytologia Britannica 25 Wild Heart Cherry-tree... The country people there [i.e. in Stockport] call it the Merry-tree.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 519 They [sc. cherries] do best grafted on the Black Cherry Stock, or the Merry Stock.
1757 A. Cooper Compl. Distiller iii. lii. 221 The black Cherry, the Merry or Honey Cherry.
1778 G. White Jrnl. 29 July (1970) xi. 154 The fruit of the wild merry-trees..being now ripe, diverts the thrushes etc: from eating the currans.
1822 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 29 June 821 There are not many of the merries, as they call them in Kent and Hampshire.
1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 102 Merry, the cherry; applied to both black and red varieties, but especially the small semi-wild fruit.
1899 Longman's Mag. Dec. 179 The wild cherry tree, or merry-tree, also known..as the ‘Gean’.
1940 H. J. Massingham Chiltern Country vi. 105 The orchards of ‘merries’ (little black cherries) have been mostly felled.
1988 J. Lavers Dict. Isle of Wight Dial. 55 Merry, the wild cherry (Prunus avium). Probably accounts for Merry Gardens, near Lake.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

merryadj.

Brit. /ˈmɛri/, U.S. /ˈmɛri/
Forms: Old English merge (Kentish), Old English murge (rare), Old English myrge, Old English myrige, Old English (Kentish)–early Middle English merige, Middle English marier (comparative), Middle English meory, Middle English mergest (superlative), Middle English mergore (comparative), Middle English merrer (comparative), Middle English mirgurre (comparative), Middle English miri, Middle English mirie, Middle English miry, Middle English mirye, Middle English muregore (comparative), Middle English murer (comparative), Middle English murȝe, Middle English murgest (superlative), Middle English murȝhere (comparative), Middle English murgore (comparative), Middle English murgorye (comparative), Middle English murgost (superlative), Middle English murgre (comparative), Middle English murgure (comparative), Middle English murgust (superlative), Middle English muri, Middle English murie, Middle English muriȝe, Middle English mury, Middle English murye, Middle English mvrie, Middle English myrgor (comparative), Middle English myri, Middle English myriȝe, Middle English myrre, Middle English myrye, Middle English–1500s mere, Middle English–1500s merey, Middle English–1500s meri, Middle English–1500s merie, Middle English–1500s myrie, Middle English–1500s myrry, Middle English–1500s myry, Middle English–1600s merrye, Middle English–1600s mery, Middle English–1600s merye, Middle English– merry, 1500s mearey, 1500s mearye, 1500s mirrie, 1500s myre, 1500s–1600s meary, 1500s–1600s mirry, 1500s–1600s (1700s– archaic) merrie, 1600s meery, 1600s merei, 1600s merij; English regional 1800s– murrie (south-western), 1800s– murry (south-western and northern); Scottish pre-1700 merey, pre-1700 merie, pre-1700 merye, pre-1700 mire, pre-1700 mirie, pre-1700 mirre, pre-1700 mirrey, pre-1700 mirrhie, pre-1700 mirrie, pre-1700 mirry, pre-1700 mirrye, pre-1700 moeri, pre-1700 myrie, pre-1700 myrrie, pre-1700 myrry, pre-1700 1700s mery, pre-1700 1700s– merrie, pre-1700 1700s– merry, 1900s– murie (rare), 1900s– murry (rare).
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with the first element of Middle Dutch mergelijc pleasant, agreeable, merchte , merechte mirth n., and also with Old High German murg short, Gothic -maurgjan (in gamaurgjan to shorten) < the Indo-European base of Sanskrit muhur suddenly, Avestan mərəzu- short, Sogdian mwrzk short, ancient Greek βραχύς short (compare brachy- comb. form), and probably also (with suffixation) classical Latin brevis short (compare brevi- comb. form). The development of sense appears to have been ‘short; that shortens or whiles away time; entertaining, pleasant’; for a similar semantic development compare pastime n., short v.1 3, shorten v. 1b, shurt v., and also Middle High German kurzwīle short while, whiling away of time, pastime, pleasure (German (archaic) Kurzweil pastime), Middle High German kurzwīlec entertaining (German kurzweilig ), Old Icelandic skemta to amuse, entertain ( < skammur short; compare skent v.).Old English forms with e in the first syllable reflect the usual development of y in the south-east of England. A further variation in Middle English between u and i (also spelt y ) again reflects the regular divergence in the development of Old English y between western and south-western dialects on the one hand and northern and east midland dialects on the other. The standard modern English form with e reflecting the pronunciation /ɛ/ (instead of the expected east midland i reflecting the pronunciation /ɪ/) probably derives from widespread sporadic lowering of i to e before r (compare perry n.1, and see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §75). In several modern dialects Middle English ĕ and ĭ before r have been retracted to /ə/ (usually indicated orthographically by u ). In Old English the word is normally used with non-personal referents; it is not attested with a personal referent before the 14th cent. (compare sense 4a), a usage which probably developed out of the Old English use with impersonal subject and indirect object (see sense 1b). In modern use sense 4a has become the primary sense relating to people, and uses with a non-personal referent are usually understood as belonging to sense 5.
I. That causes pleasure.
†1.
a. Of an occupation, event, state, or condition: causing pleasure or happiness; pleasing, delightful. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > [adjective]
merryeOE
jovial1607
Dionysiana1610
Anacreontic1640
jovialissime1652
festivous1654
convival1658
convivial1669
eOE Metres of Boethius (partly from transcript of damaged MS) xiii. 45 Him þa twigu þincað emne swa merge þæt hi þæs metes ne recð.
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxi. 70 [For] þy ic nat hwæt þa wor[uldlustas] myrges bringað [L. quid habeat jucunditatis] hiora luf[igendum].
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) x. 259 Ðeos woruld þeah ðe heo myrige hwiltidum geþuht sy, nis heo hwæðre þe gelicre þære ecan worulde, þe is sum cweartern leohtum dæge.
c1225 (?OE) Soul's Addr. to Body (Worcester) (Fragm. E) l. 15 Þonne domesdai [cum]eþ. Þonne scalt þu, erming, up arisen, imeten þine morþdeden þeo þe murie [were]n, seoruhful ond sorimod.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 198 He..spec swiðe swoteliche & wordes se murie þet ha mahten deade arearen to liue.
c1300 St. Sebastian (Laud) 19 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 179 (MED) Guod it is and murie breþren to wonie i-fere.
c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 905 (MED) Hu murie hit were to haue þe siht Off godes face!
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 57 No þinge is meriar þen lhesu to synge.
?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) iii. vi. 200 Nothynge is more swete than is loue,..nothynge..meryer [L. jucundius].
b. In impersonal construction with indirect object denoting the person characterized by happiness or joy. Cf. sense 4a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > merriment > [adjective]
blitheOE
merryOE
golikc1175
lustya1225
playfulc1225
jollyc1305
merrya1350
jocund?c1380
galliardc1386
in (also on) a (merry, etc.) pinc1395
mirthfula1400
baudec1400
gayc1400
jovy1426
jocantc1440
crank1499
envoisiesa1500
as merry as a cricket1509
pleasant1530
frolic?1548
jolious1575
gleeful1586
buxom1590
gleesome1590
festival1592
laughter-loving1592
disposed1593
jucund1596
heartsomec1600
jovial1607
jovialist1610
laughsome1612
jocundary1618
gaysome1633
chirpinga1637
jovialissime1652
airy1654
festivous1654
hilarous1659
spleneticala1661
cocket1671
cranny1673
high1695
vogie1715
raffing?1719
festal1724
as merry (or lively) as a grig1728
hearty1755
tittuping1772
festive1774
fun-loving1776
mirthsome1787
Falstaffian1809
cranky1811
laughful1825
as lively as a cricket1832
hurrah1835
hilarious1838
Bacchic1865
laughterful1874
griggish1879
banzai1929
slap-you-on-the-back1932
OE Homily: Larspell (Corpus Cambr. 419) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 237 He sæde, þæt him nære næfre ær swa eðe ne swa myrige on nanum yfele, swa him þa wæs.
OE Homily (Hatton 113) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 152 Hyre wæs myrge on hyre mode þurh þæt.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 11691 Him wes to murie, for þis lond wes þa swiðe god.
c. Of music, speech, etc.: pleasing to the ear, pleasant to hear. Of a musical instrument: producing a sweet sound; (of a bird) having a pleasant song. (In later use passing into sense 5.) Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > [adjective] > making a sound
merryOE
warbling1549
singing1798
rolling1839
the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective]
winsomea900
sweetc900
likingeOE
i-quemec950
lieflyOE
winlyOE
hereOE
thankfulc1000
merryOE
queemc1175
beina1200
willea1200
leesomec1200
savouryc1225
estea1250
i-wilc1275
winc1275
welcomea1300
doucea1350
well-pleasingc1350
acceptablea1382
pleasablea1382
pleasanta1382
pleaseda1382
acceptedc1384
amiablec1384
well-likinga1387
queemfulc1390
flattering1393
pleasinga1398
well-queeminga1400
comelyc1400
farrandc1400
greable1401
goodlyc1405
amicable?a1425
placablec1429
amene1433
winful1438
listyc1440
dulcet1445
agreeablec1450
favourousc1485
sweetly?a1500
pleasureful?c1502
dulcea1513
grate1523
prettya1529
plausible1541
jolly1549
dulcoratec1550
toothsome1551
pleasurable1557
tickling1558
suavec1560
amenous1567
odoriferous?1575
perfumed1580
glada1586
tickle1593
pleasurous1595
favoursome1601
dulcean1606
gratifying1611
Hyblaean1614
gratulatea1616
arrident1616
solacefula1618
pleasantable1619
placid1628
contentsome1632
sapid1640
canny1643
gustful1647
peramene1657
pergrateful1657
tastefula1659
complacent1660
placentiousa1661
gratifactorya1665
bland1667
suavious1669
palatable1683
placent1683
complaisant1710
nice1747
tasty1796
sweetsome1799
titbit1820
connate1836
cunning1843
mooi1850
gemütlich1852
sympathique1859
congenial1878
sympathetic1900
sipid1908
onkus1910
sympathisch1911
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [adjective]
sweetc900
merryOE
well-soundingc1350
sootc1385
soundedc1450
honeyed1592
well-tuned1592
ear-tickling1605
mellisonanta1635
euphonical1668
euphonious1774
euphonous1805
euphonic1814
euphonistic1837
listenable1920
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > melodious or harmonious
sweetc900
merryOE
softc1230
accordanta1325
well-soundingc1350
cordant1382
sootc1385
songfula1400
melodiousa1425
sugaredc1430
well-toneda1500
tunable1504
dulcea1513
equivalenta1513
consonant?1521
harmonicala1527
harmoniousc1550
consorteda1586
Orphean1593
concentful1595
melodical1596
sweet-recording1598
tuneful1598
sirenical1599
high-tuned1603
nightingale-like1611
soundful?1615
according1626
modulaminous1637
undiscording1645
canorous1646
symphonious1652
concinnous1654
consonous1654
harmonic1667
sirenica1704
symphonial1773
concentual1782
chantant1785
Memnonian1800
melodized1807
Orphic1817
undiscordant1819
concentuous1850
fluting1852
melodic1871
well-orchestrated1872
jarless1876
tuny1885
tunesome1890
OE Hymns (Durh. B.iii.32) cxxvii. 5 in I. Milfull Hymns of Anglo-Saxon Church (1996) 413 Dulci..ymno omne per aevum : mid merigum..lofsange geond ælce ylde.
c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 198 Þider ȝe [sc. the blessed] beoð ibrohte mid muriȝe lofsongum.
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 345 (MED) Ne bo þe song neuer so murie Þat he ne shal þinche wel unmurie.
c1300 St. Brendan (Harl.) 220 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 225 (MED) Þe foweles..bigonne here euesong; Muriere song nemiȝte beo.
c1390 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 4041 His [sc. the cock's] voys was murier than the myrie orgon.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 1447 (MED) Mony watz þe [m] yry mouthe of men & of houndez.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 200 They trotted on..over a blythe contray full of many myrry byrdis.
a1500 (?a1410) J. Lydgate Churl & Bird (Lansd.) 103 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 472 (MED) Ryngyng of ffeteris makith no mery soun.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 101 This mirry gentill nychtingaill.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxxx[i]. 2 Brynge hither the tabret, the mery harpe & lute.
1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum v. xxiii. f. 47v/2 How profitable is a merry voice and sweete.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) ii. v. 3 Vnder the greene wood tree, who loues to lye with mee, And turne his merrie Note, vnto the sweet Birds throte. View more context for this quotation
1647 S. Danforth Almanack 2 A Coal-white Bird appeares this spring That neither cares to sigh or sing. This when the merry Birds espy, They take her for some enemy.
1662 J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Trilinguis lxxii. 189 He useth a voice..sharp and fierce in anger; merry and pleasant in joy.
c1710 Holly & Ivy in C. J. Sharp Eng. Folk-Carols (1911) 18 The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
d. Of a place or country: pleasant, agreeable in character. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective] > specifically of a place or country
merryOE
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > [adjective] > types of land or country
merryOE
greatc1325
homeless1725
less developed1857
Bongo Bongo1932
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 420 Ða wæs ðær gehende þam halgan wære an myrige dun mid wyrtum amet, mid eallre fægernysse and eac ful smeðe.
OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 362 Wæs se stede myrige to þam mynsterlife.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12458 Þat lond bið þa murgre.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 10031 Sone hii gonne herie þat lond was swiþe murie.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 212 God bar him in-to paradis,..Bi-tagte him al ðat mirie stede.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 172 It [sc. Armenia] is most merye londe, with herbes, corne, wodes and fruyte.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 936 Now tech me to þat myry mote [sc. Jerusalem].
1415 T. Hoccleve Addr. to Sir John Oldcastle l. 487 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 23 Heuene is a miry place.
a1450 ( in J. Kail 26 Polit. Poems (1904) 71 (MED) Flaundres was þe richest land and meriest to mynne.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 274 Edinburcht, the myrrie town.
1596 E. Spenser Prothalamion 128 To mery London, my most kyndly Nurse.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 125 Thus all through merry Islington These gambols he did play.
e. Of weather, climate, a season, a day, etc.: pleasant, fine. Of a wind: favourable for sailing. Also figurative. Obsolete.The sense is attested earliest as a surname.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [adjective]
fairOE
merry1214
clearc1384
well-disposed1477
fine1595
blue-sky1852
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > favourable (of wind)
fairlOE
likinga1387
menablea1393
goodc1425
merrya1571
furthering1599
foreright1605
following1839
1214 in P. H. Reaney & R. M. Wilson Dict. Eng. Surnames (1991) s.v. Merryweather Henry Meriweder.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10440 Wind stod on wille weder swiðe murie.
?a1300 in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 144 Myrie a tyme I telle in may, Wan bricte blosmen brekeȝ on tre.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 5696 Þet weder was murgore [v.rr. mergore, myrgor] by is daye.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. 2081 (MED) The day was merie and fair ynowh.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 804 In þe myry mornyng ȝe may yor waye take.
1402 Reply Friar Daw Topias in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1861) II. 72 Whi with not thi cow make myry weder in thi dish?
c1430 N. Love Mirror Blessed Life (Brasenose e.9) (1908) 42 (MED) Oure lord god after tempest sente softe and mery wedir.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 384 (MED) The seson was myri and softe.
1567 G. Turberville Epitaphes, Epigrams f. 110v Let others then that feelen ioy Extole the merrie Month of May.
a1571 W. Haddon in A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. (1576) 423 Euen as Gouernours of shippes..cut the waues as they are furthered with a merrie winde: euen so let us frame our studie and labour.
1589 R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 20 There taking ship againe (hauing a merrie & prosperous wind)..[he] arrived at Tunez.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 90 The merrie winde Blowes faire from land. View more context for this quotation
a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 1148 Manie mirrie evening maks manie sorie morning.
1630 J. Winthrop Hist. New Eng. (1853) I. 18 We tacked about..with a merry gale in all our sails.
1685 J. Dryden tr. Horace Odes iii. xxix, in Sylvæ sig. K5v In my small Pinnace I can sail,..And running with a merry gale,..my safety seek..Within some little winding Creek.
f. Of looks or appearance: pleasing to behold, attractive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > [adjective] > cheerful-looking > expressing cheerfulness (of looks)
merryc1225
smicker1589
smiling1725
shining1821
shiny1876
c1225 Life St. Katherine 314 (MED) Þi leor is, meiden, lufsum, & ti muð murie.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2258 Her non hadden ðo loten miri.
a1500 (a1400) Sir Cleges (Adv.) (1930) 27 (MED) The knyȝt hade a ientyll wyffe..And mery sche was on siȝte.
1559 Passage Q. Eliz. A ij Her grace by holding vp her handes, and merie countenaunce to such as stode farre of,..did declare her selfe [etc.].
1703 London Gaz. No. 3948/4 A dun Gelding..with a round Barrel, longish Legg'd,..a merry Countenance.
g. Of an odour: pleasant, fragrant. Of a fruit, plant, etc.: sweet-smelling, aromatic. Obsolete.All recorded instances of this sense are translations of post-classical Latin jocundus in Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective]
likingeOE
goodOE
lickerousc1275
deliciousa1325
daintya1382
dainteousc1386
daintiful1393
delicatea1398
merrya1398
savourlyc1400
liciousc1420
savourousa1425
daintethc1430
lustyc1430
feelsomea1450
nuttya1450
seasonablea1475
delicativec1475
unctuous1495
well-tasteda1500
daintive1526
savoury1533
exquisite1561
spicy1562
well-relished?1575
finger-licking1584
toothsome1584
taste-pleasinga1586
daint1590
relishsome1593
lickerish1595
tastesome1598
friand1599
tooth-tempting1603
relishing1605
well-relishing1608
neat1609
hungry1611
palate-pleasing1611
tasteful1611
palatea1617
tastya1617
palatable1619
toothful1622
sipid1623
unsoured1626
famelic1631
tasteablea1641
piquant1645
sapid1646
saporousa1670
slape1671
palativea1682
flavorous1697
nice1709
well-flavoured1717
gusty1721
flavoury1727
fine-palated1735
unrepulsive1787
degustatory1824
zesty1826
peckish1845
mouth-watering1847
flavoursome1853
unreasty1853
unrancida1855
relishy1864
toothy1864
flavoured1867
tasty-looking1867
hungrifying1886
velvety1888
snappy1892
zippy1911
savoursome1922
delish1953
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective]
sweet900
sootc950
aromatic1366
merrya1398
well-smellinga1398
sweet-smellingc1400
lusciousc1420
savoury?a1425
redolingc1429
redolent?a1439
odorate?1440
flagrant1450
redolentc1450
well-savouringc1450
aromatous1483
softa1500
well-aired1505
balmy1508
ambrosiana1522
embalmeda1529
fragrantc1530
perfumed1538
scented?c1562
scented1567
balm-like1569
sweet1573
aromatizate1576
aromatical1578
Sabaeana1586
ambrosial1590
rich1590
perfumed1591
sweet-scented1591
reperfumed1593
balm-breathing1595
nectaredc1595
spiced1600
fuming1601
fumed1612
scentful1612
balsam1624
perfumy1625
odoraminous1656
aroma-olent1657
suaveolent1657
aromatized1661
essenced1675
balsamy1687
flavorous1697
balsamic1714
well-scented1726
scenty1738
breathing1757
spicy1765
flavouriferous1773
aromal1848
bescented1863
euodic1868
nosy1892
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 217 Cedre is a tree wiþ mury [L. iocundi] smylle.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 218v Nobil cassia is..mery of smelle.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 311v Malencolik men..loueþ stynkeng place and voydeþ þat smylleþ wel and mury.
1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum xvii. xxiii. f. 281/2 Ceder is a Tree with merrye smell.
2. Of a tale, saying, jest, etc.: amusing, diverting, funny.Now only with mixture of sense 5.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [adjective] > comical
merryc1390
pleasant1553
comical1575
mowsome1596
zany1616
burlesque1656
humoursome1656
farce-like1681
foolish1691
farcical1715
amusive1727
farciful1731
funny1739
farcic1763
quizzical1785
quizzy1785
quizzish1792
rib-tickling1809
smileable1830
cocasse1868
priceless1907
skit1914
funny-ha-ha1916
gas1955
c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 46 I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiii. 352 Þei..þanne had merye tales, And how þat lechoures louyen lauȝen an iapen.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 36 Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw, He likit weill at that mercat to be.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 244/2 Mery taunt, lardon.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 244/2 Mery jeste a ryddle, sornette.
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Idolatry iii, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) ii. 265 Seneca much commendeth Dionysius, for his merry robbing of such decked and jewelled puppets.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. ii. 173 Two of her brothers were condemnd to death, My hand cut off and made a merrie iest. View more context for this quotation
1595 A. Duncan Appendix Etymologiae: Index in Latinae Grammaticae Facetie, mirrie bourds.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ix. 378 There is a merry secret heere concerning the women.
1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. vi. 185 The Notions all the Mussulmans have of the Antichrist..are really merry.
1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. vi. 188 I had like to have left out the very merriest Passage in the whole Story.
1769 E. Bancroft Ess. Nat. Hist. Guiana 328 A variety of fables which are merry.
1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. ii. 17 He gave me the merry book [sc. a copy of Chaucer].
1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men I. viii. 189 The coy giggle of the young lady to whom he has imparted his latest merry jape.
1930 Stage 3 Apr. 9/4 A string of merry jokes and just sufficient phono-fiddle work to add to their appeal.
1989 Independent (BNC) 12 Dec. 27/2 Chevy Chase playing a part very reminiscent of the old Bob Hope: always a merry quip while in jeopardy.
†3.
a. Of sunlight, moonlight, etc.: bright. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [adjective] > bright
shininga900
lighteOE
lightlyOE
sheenOE
torhtOE
shirea1000
steepa1000
shimmeringc1000
brightOE
strongOE
clear1297
fair?a1300
bright-shininga1387
merrya1393
skirea1400
lucident14..
shimc1400
staringc1400
luculentc1420
splendent1474
illuminousc1485
lucentc1500
bloominga1522
sheer1565
prelucent1568
faculent1575
splendant1578
lucid1591
neat1591
shine1596
translucent1596
well-lighted1606
nitid1615
lucible1623
dilucid1653
translucid1657
hard1660
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 6128 He telth..hou ther schon a merye Sunne.
c1450 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Durh.) i. 6 (MED) The lyght Of thelke sterre..with hir bemys bryght And withe the shynyng of hir stremys merye Is wonte to gladde all our Emysperye.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. xi. 220 The herring loves the merry moon-light.
b. Of an article of clothing, an ornament, etc.: fine, handsome, brightly coloured. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > fine, elegant, or smart
quaintc1330
nice1395
merryc1400
featc1430
elegant?c1500
mannerly1523
fine1526
neat1566
trim1675
smart1704
dressy1785
natty1794
good1809
dossy1889
dicty1932
whip-smart1937
zooty1943
sharp1944
preppy1963
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 199 Bounden..Wyth þe myryeste margarys.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 1736 (MED) Þe lady..rayked hir þeder, In a mery mantyle.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 2864 A mery mantill of mervailous hewis.
II. Characterized by happiness or joy.
4.
a. Full of animated enjoyment (in early use chiefly with reference to feasting or sporting); full of laughter or cheerfulness; joyous. Also of a person's general disposition: given to joyousness or mirth.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > merriment > [adjective]
blitheOE
merryOE
golikc1175
lustya1225
playfulc1225
jollyc1305
merrya1350
jocund?c1380
galliardc1386
in (also on) a (merry, etc.) pinc1395
mirthfula1400
baudec1400
gayc1400
jovy1426
jocantc1440
crank1499
envoisiesa1500
as merry as a cricket1509
pleasant1530
frolic?1548
jolious1575
gleeful1586
buxom1590
gleesome1590
festival1592
laughter-loving1592
disposed1593
jucund1596
heartsomec1600
jovial1607
jovialist1610
laughsome1612
jocundary1618
gaysome1633
chirpinga1637
jovialissime1652
airy1654
festivous1654
hilarous1659
spleneticala1661
cocket1671
cranny1673
high1695
vogie1715
raffing?1719
festal1724
as merry (or lively) as a grig1728
hearty1755
tittuping1772
festive1774
fun-loving1776
mirthsome1787
Falstaffian1809
cranky1811
laughful1825
as lively as a cricket1832
hurrah1835
hilarious1838
Bacchic1865
laughterful1874
griggish1879
banzai1929
slap-you-on-the-back1932
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaker > [adjective]
merrya1350
revellingc1450
jolly1484
goodfellow-like1542
good-fellowly1573
jovial1607
jovialist1610
boona1612
merrymaking1616
festive1744
convivial1754
good-fellowish1839
rig-a-dig1851
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 49 (MED) Heo is..Maiden murgest of mouþ.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 4926 (MED) Þei muriest at þe mete þat time seten.
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 148 (MED) When men beoþ murgest at heor Mele, I rede ȝe þenke on ȝuster-day.
a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 63 (MED) Why ar ȝe no myryar?
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 587 Sir Dagonet, kynge Arthurs foole..is the beste felow and the meryeste in the worlde.
a1475 Friar & Boy (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 48 The boy was mery y-nowe.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 274 Bring ȝow sone to Edinburgh ioy, For to be merye amangis ws.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 57/1 The King would say that he had .iii. concubines,..One the meriest, an other the wiliest, the thirde the holiest harlot in his realme... But the meriest was..Shoris wife.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. ii. 25 Hee is melancholy without cause and merry against the haire. View more context for this quotation
1637 T. Heywood Pleasant Dial. ii, in Wks. (1874) VI. 124 The wine that men At merry meetings jovially downe poure, Is happier far, than what (vndrunke) growes soure.
1660 S. Pepys Diary 9 Oct. (1970) I. 262 And find him to be a merry fellow and pretty good-natured and sings very bawdy songs.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 394 We..Supp'd together in Gravesend; where we were very Merry.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho II. xii. 462 Poor Ludovico..would be as merry as the best of them, if he was well.
1832 W. Irving Alhambra II. 262 His memory was always cherished as that of a merry companion.
1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. ii. 10 She was the merriest little abbess in the world.
1905 G. B. Shaw in Sat. Rev. 11 Feb. 170/2 The merry lady with her barmaidenly repartees.
1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling iv. 30 You'll likely not be so merry, time the day be done.
1987 Woman's Own 6 June 17 I didn't really think it could happen to children who were merry and happy and had a life that was jolly and nice.
†b. Happy, pleased, content. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective]
fainc888
gladlyc1000
golikc1175
gladful?c1225
joyfulc1290
joyousc1315
merryc1380
well begonea1425
frikec1430
rejoiced1533
delightful1534
rejoiceful1538
blitheful1559
gladded1569
blithelike1570
delighted1581
lighted1596
delighting1601
joyed1640
enjoying1651
gladdened1729
glad1799
like (or proud as) a dog with two tails1829
joyant1834
bird-blithe1917
gassed1941
enthralled1944
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 2122 (MED) Buþ now murie & glad; Þis is þat tresour whar-for ȝe han trauayl & tene i-had.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 4812 (MED) Quen þai saghe þer corne plente, Murer [a1400 Gött. Glader, a1400 Vesp. Bliþer] men miȝt neuer be.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Job xxi. 23 This yuel man dieth..riche and blesful, that is, myrie.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 29 (MED) If I haue good a-now plente, I kan be mery.
1529 T. More in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880) 12 I pray you be with my..household mery in God.
1543 Chron. J. Hardyng f. lviii The true lorde Hastynges..was neuer merier, ner thought his life in more suretye in all his dayes.
1568 (a1500) Freiris Berwik 405 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 273 Quhairfoir of richt we aucht mirry to be.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 184 [Silkworms] will be no where merry nor vsefull, but where are store of Mulbery Trees.
c. Boisterous or cheerful due to alcohol; slightly drunk, tipsy. Cf. market-merry adj. at market n. Compounds 2, merry-drunk adj. at merry adv. Compounds 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [adjective] > drunk > partially drunk
merrya1382
semi-bousyc1460
pipe merry1542
totty1570
tipsy1577
martin-drunk1592
pleasant1596
mellow1611
tip-merry1612
flustered1615
lusticka1616
well to live1619
jolly1652
happy1662
hazy1673
top-heavy1687
hearty1695
half-seas-over1699
oiled1701
mellowish1703
half channelled over1709
drunkish1710
half-and-half1718
touched1722
uppisha1726
tosie1727
bosky1730
funny1751
fairish1756
cherry-merry1769
in suds1770
muddy1776
glorious1790
groggified1796
well-corned1800
fresh1804
to be mops and brooms1814
foggy1816
how-come-ye-so1816
screwy1820
off the nail1821
on (also, esp. in early use, upon) the go1821
swipey1821
muggy1822
rosy1823
snuffy1823
spreeish1825
elevated1827
up a stump1829
half-cockedc1830
tightish1830
tipsified1830
half shaved1834
screwed1837
half-shot1838
squizzed1845
drinky1846
a sheet in the wind1862
tight1868
toppy1885
tiddly1905
oiled-up1918
bonkers1943
sloshed1946
tiddled1956
hickey-
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Kings xxv. 36 Þer was to hym a feste in his hous..and þe herte of naabal myrie [a1425 L.V. iocounde; L. iucundum]; forsoþe he was drunke ful myche.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 52 (MED) Whanne he is drunken, he is oþirwhile angri and oþirwhile merye.
1575–6 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 287 The said Sr Richerd, being mery with drinke, maid a quarrell to this examinate.
1575–6 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 288 The said Sr Richerd will be mery with drinke ther, but not dronken.
1681 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 134 Mr. Verdon..returning home pretty merry, took occasion to murder a man on the road.
1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth III. 7 Drunk, which the vulgar call merry.
1838 G. P. R. James Robber I. vi. 121 Doveton, who was beginning to get merry, and eke good-humoured in his cups.
1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights I. 25 I can make allowances for gentlemen who get merry in their liquor.
1931 M. Allingham Police at Funeral xxiv. 304 When the hostelries opened, George and Beveridge became genuinely merry, but not actually drunk.
1987 N. Hinton Buddy's Song vi. 28 They'd finished the champagne and started on the wine so they were all a bit merry.
†d. Jocular, humorous, witty. Also with on, upon, with (a person). Now only in to make merry at Phrases 1a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [adjective] > humorous or jesting
bourdfula1425
pleasant1530
facete1600
joculary1605
merrya1616
jocundary1618
lepidc1619
droll1623
humorousa1652
drollerical1656
humoursome1656
drollish1674
ludicrous1687
humorific1819
jestful1831
humoristica1834
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iii. ii. 38 I know his Lordship is but merry with me. View more context for this quotation
1694 F. Atterbury Scorner Incapable of Wisdom 17 They were men who..took their fill of all the Good Things of this World; and..were very Merry, and very Bitter upon Those who did not.
1703 N. Rowe Fair Penitent Ded. sig. A4 There is hardly such a thing as being merry, but at another's Expence.
1709 J. Swift Famous Prediction of Merlin 2 Astrology..is by no means an Art to be despis'd; whatever Mr. Bickerstaff, or other Merry Gentlemen are pleased to think.
1714 Spectator No. 573. (init.) You are pleased to be very merry, as you imagine, with us Widows.
a1777 S. Foote Nabob (1778) i. 17 You are merry, Sir.
1833 E. Bulwer-Lytton Godolphin I. iv. 34 You are merry on me, I see.
5.
a. Expressive of merriment; characterized by cheerfulness or exuberant gaiety; festive, joyful, jolly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective] > expressive of joy (of looks or actions)
gladOE
joyousc1315
joyfula1400
gladsomea1420
merrya1425
gratulant1471
cock-a-hoop1826
a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) 3683 (MED) Þe erl come with meri chere Omang al þat folk.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xiii. viii. 76 Full mery noys and sovndis of gam and play.
1570 R. Sempill in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 95 Adew..All thinge that may mak mirrie cheir.
1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in Amoretti & Epithalamion viii. sig. G7v Harke how the Minstrels gin to shrill aloud, Their merry Musick.
a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) (1946) ii. xi. f. 81 Be mery & jocound clamour of the pepill.
1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew i. sig. C3v Strike up Piper a merry merry dance That we on our stampers may foot it and prance.
1739 A. Nicol Nature without Art 22 Ilk merry Look and wally Taste Gies Health unto the gamesome Jest.
1816 J. Austen Emma I. iv. 52 Their moonlight walks and merry evening games. View more context for this quotation
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iii. 42 He was a pleasant-looking fellow,..with dark hair, and a merry brown eye.
a1876 M. Collins Thoughts in Garden (1880) II. 251 Seascapes divine which the merry winds whiten.
1909 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Avonlea xix. 215 Anne poured the tea and she and Paul had a very merry meal in the dim old sitting room.
1924 M. Webb Precious Bane ii. ii. 79 It was a merry scene, with the bright holly and mistletoe.
1952 J. L. Waten Alien Son 130 From within came the sound of merry voices.
1986 J. Bauman Winter in Morning (1991) viii. 185 The big, bright room of a cottage in the village..vibrated with the clamour of two fiddles..the buzz of merry voices.
b. Of a season or festival: characterized by celebration and rejoicing. Frequently in Merry Christmas! and other seasonal greetings.
ΚΠ
1534 J. Fisher Let. 22 Dec. in T. Fuller Church Hist. Eng. (1837) v. iii. 47 And thus our Lord send yow a mery Christenmas, and a comfortable, to yowr heart desyer.
1565 J. Scudamore Let. 17 Dec. in Hereford Munic. MSS (transcript) (O.E.D. Archive) I. ii. 209 And thus I comytt you to god, who send you a mery Christmas & many.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. iii. 36 Welcome mery shrouetide. View more context for this quotation
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 87 To keepe a merry Christmas.
1667 Earl of Sandwich Let. in W. Temple Wks. (1720) II. 136 I wish you a very merry Christmas.
1689 T. Bawden Let. 26 Dec. (O.E.D. Archive) A Merry Christmas & a happy New yeare.
1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Dec. (1948) I. 134 But first I'll wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New-Year.
1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 25 Mar. (1948) I. 223 Morning. I wish you a merry New-year; this is the first day of the year, you know, with us.
1798 J. Austen Let. 25 Dec. (1995) 30 I wish you a merry Christmas, but no compliments of the Season.
1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol iii. 104 They wished each other Merry Christmas in their can of grog.
1909 Daily Chron. 26 Jan. 5/6 ‘A Merry Christmas!’ he shouts light-heartedly at curtain-fall.
1944 H. Martin & R. Blane (title of song) Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
1987 Woman's Own 19–26 Dec. 69/3 ‘A merry Christmas, Uncle!’ he said cheerfully. ‘God save you!’
2000 N. Kanellos Noche Buena 280 Chez Les Domingos, Take 15. Roll'em! ‘Merry Christmas, dear ladies! Feliz Navidad. Joyeux Noel. How are you all doing?’

Phrases

P1.
a. to make merry: to be festive, to celebrate; to enjoy oneself with others in drinking, dancing, etc.; also with reflexive pronoun as object in early use. [In quot. c1330 apparently a blended construction: made hem ioie and made hem miri. It is not clear whether the use with reflexive pronoun is the original construction.]
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > make merry [verb (intransitive)]
to make feast?c1225
to make merryc1330
merrymakec1395
to have a good (bad, etc.) time (of it, formerly on it)1509
to make pleasant1530
gaud1532
to play the goodfellow1563
company1591
junket1607
rage1979
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 8218 Þer þai made hem ioie and miri For store and tresor þat þai brouȝt.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1880 Make we vs merie for mete haue we at wille.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 2811 Al ȝour mornyng leteþ now ben & murȝere let ous make.
a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 2607 Make us mery and lete hym gone! He was a good felawe.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 40 Sum makis him myrre at the wynis.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 625/2 Make mery, syrs, we shall go hence to morowe.
1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. xiii. sig. C11 Men come heere to make merry.
1667 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1916) II. 15 She dissembled her greife and made mirrie till night.
1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 248 Church Ales are when people go from afternoon prayers on Sundays to..some public house, where they drink and make merry.
1791 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 19/1 My horse took fright at some hay-makers who were carouzing and making merry.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Palace of Art i, in Poems (new ed.) 69 Oh Soul, make merry and carouse.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage xxxvii. 173 He could not face again the sight of cheerful people, talking, laughing, and making merry.
1960 B. Kops Dream of Peter Mann 30 Bring out the bunting, make merry, look alive, if you can.
1997 Baltimore Mag. Aug. 40 These places offer an open invitation to..eat, drink, and make merry at your own pace.
b. to make merry over (also †with): to make fun of, to ridicule; also reflexive in early use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > banter [verb (transitive)] > make fun of
to have (also i-do) (something) to gameeOE
to make (a) game of (also at, on)?c1250
overmirtha1400
sporta1533
to make a sport of1535
to make (up) a lip1546
to give one a (or the) gleek1567
to make a May game of1569
to play with a person's nose1579
to make merry over (also with)1621
game1699
to make fun of1732
hit1843
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy Democritus to Rdr. 37 Accounting it an excellent thing..to make our selues merry with other mens obliquities, when as he himselfe is more faultie then the rest, mutato nomine de te fabula narratur, he may take himselfe by the nose for a foole.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiv. 399 They had made themselves merry with some improprieties in the French.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxviii. 135 The people made merry with the Cardinal's ostentation.
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 403 The people made merry with this absurd and brutal statute.
1890 Sat. Rev. 25 Oct. 481/2 He makes merry over their deficiencies.
a1917 E. Thomas Childhood E. Thomas (1938) ii. 31 My father and I made merry over the Devil and the folly of believing in him.
c. to go (also be, continue, etc.) (on) one's merry way: to continue heedlessly (in a course of action, etc.); to proceed regardless of the consequences.
ΚΠ
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xxix. 352 Mr. and Mrs. Mould, in high good humour, went their merry way.
1907 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 13 49 We..gulped the food down..with dirty dishes all about us, and the pile of scraps growing bigger every minute as the dish-washer pursued his merry way.
1954 Jrnl. Philos. 51 572 We would not rest content if our opponent admitted that if he were under ideal conditions he would agree with us in attitude, but insisted that, since he isn't, he has to be on his own merry way.
1992 M. Cole Dangerous Lady (BNC) 83 Are you just going to get a change of gear and go off again on your merry way?
d. to raise (also kick up, play, etc.) merry hell: see hell n. and int. Phrases 5a(b).
P2. In proverbs.
a. it is merry in hall when beards wag all.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 1163 Mery swiþe it is in halle, Whan þat burdes waweþ alle.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vii. sig. Iiiiv It is mery in halle, when berds wag all.
1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Commerce 58 For it is merry in Hall, where beards wagge all, according to that olde right English Prouerbe of our Ancestours.
1693 H. Higden Wary Widdow iv. 41 'Tis merry in the Hall, when Beards wag all.
1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 170 They say, 'tis merry in Hall, when Beards wag all.
1842 L. Hunt Palfrey v. 75 By heavens! 'twas ‘merry in the hall’, When every beard, but those, ‘wagg'd all’.
1976 ‘J. Davey’ Treasury Alarm i. 9 Presumably this is how the Treasury greybeards get their fun. Are they in fact greybearded? One rather assumes a great wagging of beards: 'tis merry in hall when beards wag all.
b. the more (also mo) the merrier: the more people or things there are, the better an occasion or situation will be.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 850 Among vus commez no[u]þer strot ne stryf..Þe mo þe myryer.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vii. sig. Iiii Haue among you blynde harpers (sayd I.) The mo the merier.
a1575 G. Gascoigne Flowers in Posies 30 And mo the merrier is a Prouerbe eke.
1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre i. vi. 15 in Wks. II I, and Salomon too, Win, (the more the merrier) Win, we'll leaue Rabby Busy in a Booth.
1684 G. Meriton York-shire Dial. 64 Meay the merryer, but fewer better Fair.
1738 J. Swift Treat. Polite Conversat. ii.56 Lady Sm... Come, the more, the merrier. Sir John. Ay; but the fewer the better Cheer.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. iii. 38 The more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable for them to be together. View more context for this quotation
1875 A. Trollope Way we live Now I. xxxiii. 208 The more the merrier. Ruby'll have enough for the two o' you, I'll go bail.
a1917 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick (1927) 14 The mae the merrier.
1922 E. O'Neill Hairy Ape (1923) v. 47 De more de merrier when I gits started.
1974 ‘D. Fletcher’ Lovable Man ii. 120 I moved over to features. More the merrier. I'm free-lance now.
c. as long lives a merry man (also heart) as a sad (also sorry) and variants: used as an exhortation to be cheerful. Now rare.
ΚΠ
c1450 MS Douce 52 in Festschrift zum XII. Neuphilologentage (1906) 49 As long leuyth a mery man as a sory.
1602 ( D. Lindsay Satyre (Charteris) sig. B2v For als lang leifis the mirrie man, As the sorie for ocht he can.
1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 184 As long lives a merry man as a sad.
1661 Tom Tyler & his Wife 5 As long lives a merry heart as a sorrie.
1732 T. Fuller Gnomologia 26 As long lives the merry Heart as the sad.
1833 Golden Legends II. 75 That's hearty, Sir, that's hearty—as long lives the merry man as the sad.
1887 Leeds Mercury 15 Oct. 8/7 As long lives a merry heart as a sad one.
1996 A. Garner Strandloper xxxi. 196 ‘Buck up, love,’ she said. ‘“As long lives a merry man as a sorry”.’
d. to be merry and wise: to be thoughtful without being solemn.
ΚΠ
a1516 H. Medwall Godely Interlude Fulgens ii. sig. g.iii Ye, thou art a maister mery man, Thou shall be wyse I wot nere whan.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) i. xviii. sig. D.vii It were good to make sure and be merry so, that we be wyse therewyth.]
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. ii. sig. Aiii Whan hasty witlesse myrth is mated weele, Good to be mery and wyse, they thynke and feele.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. i. sig. A.iiv Therefore an other sayd sawe doth men aduise, That they be together both mery and wise.
1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle v. sig. I3v Exhort your Souldiers to be merry and wise.
1680 M. Stevenson Wits Paraphras'd 48 I wou'd advise thee Be merry and wise.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iii. 76 He knew how to be merry and wise.
1792 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 663 It's gude to be merry and wise, It's gude to be honest and true.
1848 A. Brontë Tenant of Wildfell Hall III. xiii. 264 I have learned to be merry and wise, to be more easy with myself and more indulgent to my neighbours.
1895 A. Austin In Veronica's Garden 87 O, 'tis merry and wise to go hand-in-hand With Nature, to profit Man.
†e. it was never merry world since and variants: it is regrettable that; things were much better before (an event or circumstance). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1550 R. Hutchinson Image of God (1560) Epist. ☛iij It was a mery world (quod ye papist) before the Bible came forth in englysh, all thinges were good chepe and plentyful.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iv. ii. 9 Twas neuer merry world with vs, since these gentle men came vp.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. i. 97 'Twas neuer merry world, Since lowly feigning was call'd complement. View more context for this quotation
1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia vii. 170 The Sommoner reply'd, Twas never merry world, since in our tongue The Bible first came forth.
1875 Ld. Tennyson Queen Mary v. v. 276 It was never merry world In England, since the Bible came among us.
f. merry and bright (also occasionally bright and merry): cheerful, exuberant.
ΚΠ
1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports v. 334/1 So long as the horse is lively, looks bright and merry, and feeds well, he may be safely considered to be above his work.
1909 A. Wimperis Arcadians III. 20 I've gotter motter—Always merry and bright!
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 956/2 The pleasing appearance natural to the men is not a characteristic of the women, who early have a tendency to stoutness and ungainliness of figure... They are, however, always bright and merry.
1921 P. G. Wodehouse Indiscretions of Archie vii. 61 You'll never be lonely with Peter around. He's a great scout. Always merry and bright.
1993 S. Faulks Birdsong 179 We are going to attack tomorrow, everything is absolutely thumbs-up merry and bright and trusting to the best of luck.
P3. In proverbial comparisons.
ΚΠ
c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) 623 (MED) As mery as þe byrde on bow, I take no thought.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Ciii As mery as a marche hare.
1564 Bp. J. Pilkington Let. in Wks. (1842) Pref. 7 The bishop of Man liveth here at ease, and as merry as Pope Joan.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. i. 18 I should be as merry as the day is long. View more context for this quotation
a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iii. iv. 47 I'l be As merry as a Pismire.
1718 J. Breval Play is Plot v. 60 Come, Gentlemen let's forget and forgive; shake Hands, sing old Rose, and be as merry as Tinkers.
1798 W. Wordsworth Mad Mother in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 144 Thou shalt sing, As merry as the birds in spring.
1847 J. J. Oswandel Notes Mexican War (1885) i. 63 Everything is as merry as a marriage bell.
1873 P. G. Hamerton Intellect. Life (1876) i. v. 29 Merry as a lark.
1898 Argosy Aug. 79 You look about as merry as a funeral.
1963 S. Bedford Favourite of Gods ii. v. 184 Simon was as merry as a grig and had been mimicking the Registrar practically to his face.

Compounds

C1.
a. Forming (chiefly parasynthetic) adjectives, as merry-conceited, merry-faced, merry-hearted, merry-lipped, merry-looking, merry-mouthed, merry-voiced, etc.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. x. 126 Hit aren murye-mouthede men, mynstrales of heuene.
1547 W. Baldwin Treat. Morall Phylos. i. xx. sig. Fv Aristippus..was a merye wytted fellowe.
1548 Sir P. Hoby in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) II. App. Y. 79 I hear say he is a man somewhat aged and merry-conceited when he list.
1601 J. Bennet in T. Morley Madrigales: Triumphes of Oriana sig. Biij All cre'tures now are merry merry minded.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xxiv. 7 All the merrie hearted doe sigh. View more context for this quotation
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iv. xi. 277 He was..merry-conceited in words.
1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Klucht-sinnigh, merrie-minded.
1684 T. Otway Atheist iii. 23 You Plump-cheekt, Merry-ey'd Rogue.
1727 J. Thomson Summer 78 His folded Flock secure, the Shepherd Home Hies, merry-hearted.
1780 Mirror No. 103. ⁋409 There is a sturdy, idle, impudent, merry looking dog of a sailor..stationed at the corner of the street where I lodge.
1816 L. Hunt To J. H. in Examiner 8 Sept. 570/1 It [sc. a mouth] breaks into such sweetness, With merry-lipped completeness.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby vi. 51 The merry-faced gentleman sent round the punch.
1851 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice I. xx. 220 Clear, crisp, ringing, merry-minded waves.
1860 P. H. Gosse Romance Nat. Hist. (ed. 7) 105 Those crinking merry-voiced denizens of our summer-fields.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker xxiii. 360 He was so easy-going, and so merry-minded, that none could bear to disappoint him.
1909 A. C. Benson Poems 23 Fresh and ardent, merry-hearted.
1957 R. Sutcliff Shield Ring iii. 27 A big fat merry-looking karl that could put an arrow through a gore-crow's head at three hundred paces.
1980 Newsweek (Nexis) 3 Nov. 79 Carol Vaness and RoseMarie Freni were the merry-voiced wives.
†b. Appositive, as †merry-sorry adj. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1611 J. Davies Scourge of Folly 264 Meane while, these merry-sorry Lashes may Driue Time and Times Abuse, with sport, away.
a1618 J. Sylvester Auto-machia 125 Sailing all my Life On merry-sorry Seas.
C2.
† merry bout n. Obsolete (a) a drinking session; (b) slang an act of sexual intercourse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun] > sexual intercourse > an act of
swivec1560
fall1594
sleep1612
fuck1663
merry bout1780
stroke1785
screw?c1845
charver1846
fuckeea1866
sex act1888
frigc1890
grind1893
mount1896
poke1902
tumble1903
screwing1904
ride1905
roll1910
trick1926
lay1932
jump1934
bang1937
knock1937
shag1937
a roll in the hay1945
boff1956
naughty1959
root1961
shtup1964
home run1967
seeing to1970
legover1975
bonk1978
zatch1980
boink1989
1668 C. Sedley Mulberry-garden i. ii. 8 Like small Beer in the Morning after a merry bout over night, Doth but make us the worse afterwards.
1735 C. Coffey Merry Cobler v. 12 Before you undertake your Journey, we must have a merry Bout with honest Jobson, and at Night with our good Landlord.
1780 Newgate Cal. V. 314 Being asked..if she thought it proper for a woman of decency to ask another ‘how she did after this merry-bout’, and ‘whether she thought a rape was a merry-bout’.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xi. 146 It was the usual consummation of merry-bouts..in Scotland, Sixty Years since. View more context for this quotation
† merry main n. Obsolete the game of hazard (see main n.2 1b).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > dice-playing > [noun] > other dice games
rafflec1405
passagec1425
treygobet1426
mumchance1528
trey-trip1564
lots?1577
novum?1577
fox-mine-host1622
in and in1630
merry main1664
snake1688
pass-dice1753
chicken hazard1781
Shaking in the Shallow1795
sequin hazard1825
chuck-a-luck1836
Newmarket1837
chicken1849
poker dice1870
under and over1890
sweat1894
crown and anchor1902
Murrumbidgee1917
beetle1936
liar dice1946
Yahtzee1957
1664 G. Etherege Comical Revenge ii. iii. 28 To refresh us, we should have a box and dice, And fling a merry Mayn among our selves in sport.
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 15 Whatever Games were stirring, at Places where he retired, as Gammon, Gleek, Piquet, or even the Merry Main, he made one.
1827 T. Morton School for Grown Children iii. i. 34 If I can tempt him to throw a merry-main—no wedding for you, Miss Fanny.
† merry mean n. Obsolete a happy medium; frequently in proverbial phrases.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > condition of being mean or average > [noun] > happy medium
merry meana1475
golden mediocrity?1510
middle mean1577
happy medium1629
chastity1712
a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 124 Mesure is a mery meene, whan god is not displesed.
a1575 G. Gascoigne Flowers in Posies 41 Thus learne I by my glasse, that merrie meane is best.
1597 H. Lok Ecclesiastes 67 In measure is (we say) a merry meane.
1614 T. Freeman Rubbe & Great Cast lxxxiv Where it [sc. mankind] must be considerate and carefull, Betwixt extreames to keepe the merry meane.
merry Monarch n. British History (a familiar epithet applied to) King Charles II (now usually with the).
ΚΠ
?c1665 Earl of Rochester Sat. on King 19 Restless he rolls about from Whore to Whore A merry Monarch, scandalous, and poor.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 462. ¶5 This very Mayor afterwards erected a statue of his merry Monarch in Stocks-Market.
1826 Lancet 19 Aug. 651/2 To the ‘merry monarch’, Charles the Second, Ireland is indebted.
1967 New Statesman 1 Dec. 753/1 Anna Neagle..[as] Nell Gwyn..Cedric Hardwicke strung along as the Merry Monarch.
† merry Monday n. [compare German Rosenmontag (19th cent.), alteration of German regional (Rhineland) rasen(d)montag, lit. ‘romping Monday’] Obsolete rare the Monday before Shrove Tuesday.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Sunday before Lent > [noun] > period following > first week of > Sunday, Monday, Tuesday of > Monday in
Shrove Mondayc1450
merry Monday1565
Fat Monday1585
Shrift Monday1587
Collop Monday1614
1565 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 35 Monday next before Fasten's eve or Shrovetide called Merry Monday.
merry night n. chiefly English regional (northern) a night of festivities and sport.
ΚΠ
a1686 A. Martindale Life (1845) ii. 16 An huge lover and frequenter of wakes, greenes, and merrie-nights.
1712 N. Blundell Diary (1895) 105 We..had Sword Dansing and a Merry-Night in ye Hall and in ye Barne.
1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 223/2 Cumbrian peasantry have various festive meetings, called the kirn, or harvest-home, sheep-shearing, merry nights, and upshots.
1901 J. Rhŷs Celtic Folklore I. ii. 76 The Reformation..had already blown the blast of extinction on the Merry Nights (Noswyliau Llawen) and Saints' Fêtes (Gwyliau Mabsant).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

merryv.

Brit. /ˈmɛri/, U.S. /ˈmɛri/
Forms: Old English myrgan, Middle English mery, Middle English miry, Middle English murgy, 1600s 1800s– merry.
Origin: Probably of multiple origins. Partly a word inherited from Germanic. Probably partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: merry adj.
Etymology: Cognate with (or formed similarly to) Middle Dutch mergen to enliven, divert, Gothic gamaurgjan to shorten, a causative verb < the Germanic base of merry adj. In later use probably a re-formation < merry adj.
1. intransitive. To be merry or (formerly) pleasant; to act or play merrily. Now chiefly literary and figurative (esp. of the weather, nature, etc.).In quot. OE: (probably) to sing merrily.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > merriment > be merry [verb (intransitive)]
blissc897
spilea1000
merryOE
to make good cheera1275
blithea1400
gleea1400
to play the goodfellow1563
jolly1610
to keep Hilary term1618
gaya1629
jovialize1640
OE King Ælfred tr. Psalms (Paris) (2001) xlvi. 1 Hebbað upp eowre handa and fægniað, and myrgað Gode mid wynsumre stemne.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 44 (MED) In May hit murgeþ when hit dawes.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 139 (MED) Lo, he merys; lo, he laghys.
1898 M. J. Cawein Idyllic Monologues 88 My love went berrying Where brooks were merrying.
1908 M. J. Cawein Long Ago in Poems V. 247 Answer, love, whose eyes once merried!
1915 J. W. Riley When Baby Played in Colliers 27 Nov. 10/2 The glad winds went merrying To sway the empty grapevine-swing.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses i. i. [Telemachus] 11 Warm sunshine merrying over the sea.
2. transitive. To make (a person, etc.) merry. Now chiefly reflexive (U.S. regional and Caribbean): to amuse oneself; also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > merriment > cause to be merry [verb (transitive)]
merrya1350
mirtha1400
to meng with mirth(s)c1440
frolic1582
jovialize1614
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 44 (MED) Miles murgeþ huere makes.
a1450 (?c1350) Pride of Life l. 296 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 99 (MED) Þou miriest me in my mode.
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xxv. sig. M8v Though pleasure merries the Sences for a while: yet horror after vultures the vnconsuming heart.
1924 M. W. Beckwith Jamaica Anansi Stories 60 She..never went in where everybody in de house merrying himself, went to de kitchen.
1953 R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together i. v. 49 Some people passing on the sidewalk stopped, hearing the singing, looked in..grinning to see the people inside merrying-up themselves.
1961 S. Martinelli Let. 29 Nov. in C. Bukowski & S. Martinelli Beerspit Night & Cursing (2001) 267 Refine their ears or merry up their hearts..or larn 'em somepin [sic].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

merryadv.

Brit. /ˈmɛri/, U.S. /ˈmɛri/
Forms: Old English murge, Old English myrge, Middle English merie, Middle English merye, Middle English miri, Middle English mirie, Middle English miry, Middle English muregore (comparative), Middle English murie, Middle English mury, Middle English murye, Middle English myrie, Middle English myry, Middle English–1500s mery, 1500s meri- (in compounds), 1600s merrye, 1600s– merry; Scottish pre-1700 myrrie, 1700s– merry, 1800s– merrie.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: merry adj.
Etymology: Partly < an adverbial derivative of the Germanic base of merry adj., and partly (in later use) directly < merry adj.The Old English form murge has an unmutated stem vowel (in contrast with the mutated vowel of the adjective myrge ). This pattern is repeated in several Old English adverb/adjective pairs (e.g. ange anxiously and enge anxious, clāne cleanly and clǣne clean, swōte soot adv. and swēte sweet adj.), and probably results from the fact that all of these words were originally u-stems, which in the adjectival forms have gone over to the ja-stem declension; analogical forms (compare myrge, adverb) are common.
Merrily (in various senses). Now poetic and literary.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > [adverb]
lustly971
to thankOE
merryOE
lustilya1225
likinglya1387
pleasinglya1400
in (on) thankc1400
merrilyc1400
pleasantlya1425
listilyc1440
at pleasure1579
jolly1615
well-pleasedly1645
pleasedly1651
enjoyingly1835
welcomingly1884
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adverb]
gladlyc900
hightlyOE
blithelyc1000
merryOE
joyfullyc1330
gamelya1375
glada1400
merrilyc1400
joyinglyc1430
gladfully?c1450
joyously1474
deliciously1481
gladsomely1487
mirthfully1508
delightfully?1567
delightingly1602
delightedly1654
on wings1859
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > [adverb]
gladlyc900
blithec1000
merryOE
blithelyc1175
cheerly1546
cheerily1559
cheerfully1560
heartsomely1637
genially1751
good-humouredly1753
smilingly1806
sunnily1817
riantly1821
sunnily1828
blithesomely1858
blithefully1864
the mind > emotion > pleasure > merriment > [adverb]
merryOE
feastlya1325
gailya1375
gay?a1400
festivally?c1400
merrilyc1400
jocundly1471
mirthfully1508
jolly1615
chirpingly1650
jollily1670
jovially1704
festively1793
gleeishly1828
gleesomely1850
gleefully1862
hilariously1863
OE Homily (Hatton 113) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 152 Hu myrge he sang mid þam munecum symle.
lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) Pref. 1 And fegerne tun timbrian,..and þær murge and softe mid mæge on eardian.
c1175 Cnut's Song (Trin. Cambr.) 1 in E. O. Blake Liber Eliensis 153 Merie sungen ðe muneches binnen Ely ða Cnut ching reu ðer by.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11329 Her wes fiðelinge and song..pipen & bemen. murie þer sungen.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 398 Mirie ȝe singeð and haueð manie stefnes.
c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 423 Foules songe þer inne murie.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. ii. 308 (MED) Philip..to Douer com..& þer oure Inglis men resceyued fulle miry.
c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls 592 Daunseth he murye that is myrtheles?
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 1859 (MED) Foules a-Rose and mery gan syng Delicious notys.
1546 Supplic. Poor Commons sig. c.iii They wedde and burie, and synge full merye but all for money.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 68 We suld..Without ony dissemmillance Be blyith, and myrrie sing.
1788 J. Woodforde Diary 28 Aug. (1927) III. 45 The bells rung merry after.
1829 H. H. Milman Slave Ship in Poet. Wks. i. 187/2 Merry sang our crew, the cup Was gaily drawn and quaff'd.
1888 W. Allingham Flower Pieces 172 Blithe leap the billows, Merry sings the gale.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxi. 243 All went merry as a marriage bell until Anne's layer cake was passed.

Compounds

C1.
merry-drunk adj.
ΚΠ
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. xlvi Some ar Ape dronke full of lawghter and of toyes Some mery dronke syngynge.
c1616 R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) v. 1941 The first is merry drunk,..although his braines be somewhat shrunk I' th' wetting.
1985 J. Howker Nature of Beast iii. 41 When my old feller's merry drunk he says, ‘When that bed comes round again I'll get in it.’
† merry-faring adj. Obsolete rare
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Jer. xxv. 12 A merie faring song.
† merry-mad adj. Obsolete
ΚΠ
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. H. Smith Micro-cosmo-graphia in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 795 Too-sorry, or too-merry-mad: The happy Meane is never had.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. x. 222 They are laughing and roaring now, merry-mad every one of them.
† merry-running adj. Obsolete rare
ΚΠ
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 34 The young-men in their merry-running Madrigals.
† merry-singing adj. Obsolete rare
ΚΠ
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 72 A willing Troup of merry-singing Swains.
† merry-turned adj. Obsolete rare
ΚΠ
1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Ljv With suche taunts and meritourned answers they provoke men to laughter.
C2.
merry-begot adj. and n. colloquial and regional (British and Canadian) (a) adj. (of a child) conceived out of wedlock, illegitimate; (b) n. an illegitimate child.
ΚΠ
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale (at cited word) Merry-begot, illegitimate.
1885 H. Caine Shadow of Crime 103 That Joe Garth is a merry-begot.
1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 93/1 [N. Westmorland] T'Barn's net ta bleeam that it's a merry-begot.
1966 in Dict. Newfoundland Eng. (1982) 328/1 This child is not simply an illegitimate child, but a ‘moss child’ or a ‘moonlight child’ or a child that is ‘merry begot’.
1968 Newfoundland Q. Christmas 5 They often lived together without benefit of clergy and children born out of wedlock were called by the delightful name of ‘merrybegots’.
1972 R. Davies Manticore ii. iv. 116 You'd be branded as a bastard, a love-child, a merry-begot.
merry-begotten adj. and n. colloquial and British regional = merry-begot adj. and n.
ΚΠ
1740 C. Davies Life & Adventures i. 83 I have heard..that his Father was but a merry-begotten Son of Sir Anthony's.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Merry begotten, a bastard.
1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken xiv To mak a fule o' her that gate, wi' a merry-begotten wein!
1911 A. Warrack Scots Dial. Dict. (at cited word) Merry-begotten, illegitimate... An illegitimate child.
1962 in Sc. National Dict. (1965) Merry-begotten.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1595adj.eOEv.OEadv.OE
随便看

　

英语词典包含1132095条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。

　

Copyright © 2004-2022 Newdu.com All Rights Reserved
更新时间：2024/12/23 3:17:37