— merrily , adv. — merriness , n.
/mer"ee/ , adj., merrier, merriest .
1. full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit: a merry little man.
2. laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious: a merry time at the party.
3. Archaic. causing happiness; pleasant; delightful.
4. make merry ,
a. to be happy or festive: The New Year's revelers were making merry in the ballroom.
b. to make fun of; ridicule: The unthinking children made merry of the boy who had no shoes.
[ bef. 900; ME meri ( e ), myrie, murie, OE myr ( i ) ge, mer ( i ) ge pleasant, delightful ]
Syn. 1. happy, blithe, blithesome, frolicsome, cheery, glad. See gay. 2. jolly, jovial, gleeful.
Ant. 1. sad. 2. solemn.