Hypertext Webster Gateway: "jovial"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Jovial \Jo"vi*al\, a. [F., fr. L. Jovialis pertaining to Jove.
The planet Jupiter was thought to make those born under it
joyful or jovial. See {Jove}.]
1. Of or pertaining to the god, or the planet, Jupiter.
[Obs.]

Our jovial star reigned at his birth. --Shak.

The fixed stars astrologically differenced by the
planets, and esteemed Martial or Jovial according to
the colors whereby they answer these planets. --Sir
T. Browne.

2. Sunny; serene. [Obs.] ``The heavens always joviall.''
--Spenser.

3. Gay; merry; joyous; jolly; mirth-inspiring; hilarious;
characterized by mirth or jollity; as, a jovial youth; a
jovial company; a jovial poem.

Be bright and jovial among your guests. --Shak.

His odes are some of them panegyrical, others moral;
the rest are jovial or bacchanalian. --Dryden.

Note: This word is a relic of the belief in planetary
influence. Other examples are saturnine, mercurial,
martial, lunatic, etc.

Syn: Merry; joyous; gay; festive; mirthful; gleeful; jolly;
hilarious.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

jovial
adj : full of or showing high-spirited merriment; "when hearts
were young and gay"; "a poet could not but be gay, in
such a jocund company"- Wordsworth; "the jolly crowd at
the reunion"; "jolly old Saint Nick"; "a jovial old
gentleman"; "have a merry Christmas"; "peals of merry
laughter"; "a mirthful laugh" [syn: {gay}, {jocund}, {jolly},
{merry}, {mirthful}]


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