[mer.ry] adj mer.ri.er ; -est [ME mery, fr. OE myrge, merge; akin to OHG murg short--more at brief] (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: giving pleasure: delightful
2: full of gaiety or high spirits: mirthful
3: marked by festivity or gaiety
4: quick, brisk "a ~ pace" -- mer.ri.ly adv -- mer.ri.ness n syn merry, blithe, jocund, jovial, jolly mean showing high spirits or lightheartedness. merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity "a merry group of revelers". blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety "arrived late in his usual blithe way". jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits "singing, dancing, and jocund feasting". jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship "dinner put them in a jovial mood". jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting "our jolly host enlivened the party".