Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Jolly

Jol′ly

(jŏl′ly̆)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Jollier
(-lĭ-ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Jolliest
.]
[OF.
joli
,
jolif
, joyful, merry, F.
joli
pretty; of Scand. origin, akin to E.
yule
; cf. Icel.
jōl
yule, Christmas feast. See
Yule
.]
1.
Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful.
Like a
jolly
troop of huntsmen.
Shakespeare
“A
jolly
place,” said he, “in times of old!
But something ails it now: the spot is cursed.”
Wordsworth.
2.
Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety.
And with his
jolly
pipe delights the groves.
Prior.
Their
jolly
notes they chanted loud and clear.
Fairfax.
3.
Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant.
“A jolly cool wind.”
Sir T. North.
[Now mostly colloq.]
Full
jolly
knight he seemed, and fair did sit.
Spenser.
The
coachman is swelled into
jolly
dimensions.
W. Irving.

Webster 1828 Edition

Jolly

JOL'LY

, a.
1.
Merry; gay; lively; full of life and mirth; jovial. It expresses more life and noise than cheerful; as a jolly troop of huntsmen.
[It is seldom applied in colloquial usage to respectable company. We rarely say of respectable persons, they are jolly. It is applied to the young and the vulgar.]
2.
Expressing mirth or inspiring it.
And with his jolly pipe delights the groves.
The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions by frequent potations of malt liquors.
3.
Exciting mirth and gayety; as jolly May.
4.
Like one in high health; pretty.

Similar Results