blithenessn.
/ˈblʌɪðnɪs/ The state of being blithe; joyousness, cheeriness, merriness, happiness. (originally a synonym of bliss.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [noun]
merrinesseOE
gladnessc900
mirtheOE
playeOE
dreamOE
gladshipc975
lissOE
willOE
hightOE
blithenessc1000
gladc1000
winOE
blissc1175
delices?c1225
delight?c1225
joy?c1225
comfortc1230
listc1275
gladhead1303
daintyc1325
fainnessc1340
lightnessa1350
delectationc1384
delightingc1390
comfortationa1400
fainheada1400
blithec1400
fainc1400
delicacyc1405
gladsomeness1413
reveriea1425
joyousitiea1450
joyfulnessc1485
jucundity1536
joyousness1549
joc1560
delightfulness1565
jouissance1579
joyance1590
levitya1631
revelling1826
chuckle1837
joyancy1849
a song in one's heart1862
delightsomeness1866
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > [noun]
blithenessc1000
blithec1400
cheerfulness1435
chertec1449
jocundness1482
hilarity1568
cheerliness1571
good humour1571
exhilaration1626
cheerishness1645
geniality1652
jocundry1655
cheeriness1658
brightness1660
shine1710
flow of spirits1716
sunshine1717
genialness1727
festiveness1777
sunniness1829
riancy1834
gleesomeness1847
Euphrasia1882
hilariousness1885
blithesomeness1886
gayness1896
c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 212 Wineard wyrcen blíðnysse líf getacnað.
a1275 Prov. Alfred in Old Eng. Misc. 105 He is one blisse ouer alle bliþnesse.
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. ii. iii. 37 Vnder the blyþenesse of people.
1578 Gude & Godlie Ballates (1868) 109 Giue me the blyithnes & the blis Of my sweit Sauiour.
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iv. i. 177 Give over your teares, and put on againe your former blithenesse.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd v. iii. What double blytheness wakens up this day.
1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd II. i. 14 Troy's blitheness might become aggressive.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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