I. ˈchi(ə)r, -iə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English chere face, welcome, cheer, from Old French chiere, chere face, perhaps from Late Latin cara head, from Greek kara head, face — more at cerebral
1.
a. obsolete : face
b. archaic : facial expression
meek and mild of cheer — Edmund Spenser
2. : state of mind or heart : feeling , spirit
be of good cheer — Mt 9:2(Authorized Version)
3. : lightness of mind and feeling : gaiety
the wives of the officers came to the camp, and these brave women gave of their cheer to its dreary life — H.E.Scudder
4. : hospitable entertainment : welcome
5. : something that is provided for entertainment especially at table : food and drink prepared for a feast : fare
the fewer the better cheer
6. : something that gladdens
words of cheer
7.
a. : a shout or acclamation expressing enthusiasm, applause, favor, encouragement
cheers from the audience
b. : a set form of words for this purpose
the college cheer
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English cheren, from chere, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give new hope to : lift from discouragement, dejection, or sadness to a more happy state : solace , comfort
and through all Europe cheer desponding men with new-born hope — William Wordsworth
b. : to instill with gladness : make glad or cause to be happy with or as if with gaiety or festivity
a fandango usually cheered the weary legislators … after strenuous hours of deliberation — American Guide Series: California
2. obsolete : to supply with good cheer : feast
3. : comfort , inspirit , invigorate
food cheers
cups that cheer but not inebriate — William Cowper
4. : to instill with courage, good spirits, and optimism and to inspire to continue or persevere by or as if by cheers, applause, commendation, aid
cheer the survivors of the attack
— often used with on
cheer on the team
5. : to salute or applaud with shouts
the contest winner was cheered as she came in sight
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to be mentally or emotionally disposed
how cheer'st thou, Jessica — Shakespeare
2. : to grow or be cheerful : make merry : become glad or joyous : rejoice : take or pluck up courage — used now only with up, often imperatively
3. : to utter a shout of applause or triumph
what is there to cheer about
Synonyms: see encourage
III.
dialect
variant of chair
IV. noun
or cheer pheasant
( -s )
Etymology: Garhwali chīr, perhaps of imitative origin
: a buff or grayish pheasant ( Catreus wallichi ) of the lower Himalayan mountains distinguished by a bare red eye patch and a long narrow dark-barred tail