Hypertext Webster Gateway: "merry"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Merry \Mer"ry\, a. [Compar. {Merrier}; superl. {Merriest}.] [OE.
merie, mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, AS. merge, myrige,
pleasant; cf. murge, adv.; prob. akin to OHG. murg, short,
Goth. gama['u]rgjan to shorten; cf. L. murcus a coward, who
cuts off his thumb to escape military service; the
Anglo-Saxon and English meanings coming from the idea of
making the time seem short. Cf. {Mirth}.]
1. Laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good
spirits; jovial; inclined to laughter or play; sportive.
They drank, and were merry with him. --Gen. xliii.
34.
I am never merry when I hear sweet music. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Merry \Mer"ry\, n. (Bot.)
A kind of wild red cherry.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
merry
adj 1: 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},
{jovial}, {mirthful}]
2: offering fun and gaiety; "a gala ball after the
inauguration"; "a festive (or festal) occasion"; "gay and
exciting night life"; "a merry evening" [syn: {gala(a)}, {gay},
{festal}, {festive}]
3: quick and energetic; "a brisk walk in the park"; "a lively
gait"; "a merry chase"; "traveling at a rattling rate"; "a
snappy pace"; "a spanking breeze" [syn: {brisk}, {lively},
{rattling}, {snappy}, {spanking}, {zippy}]
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