- gaiety
- gaiety 1630s, from Fr. gaieté, from gai "gay" (see GAY (Cf. gay)). In the 1890s, especially with reference to a London theater of that name, and the kind of musical shows and dancing girls found there.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
gaiety
Look at other dictionaries:
gaiety — gai e*ty (g[=a] [ e]*t[y^]), n. Same as {Gayety}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gaiety — index enjoyment (pleasure) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
gaiety — [n] happiness, celebration animation, blitheness, brightness, brilliance, cheer, color, colorfulness, conviviality, effervescence, elation, entertainment, exhilaration, festivity, frolic, fun, geniality, gladness, glee, glitter, good humor*,… … New thesaurus
gaiety — (US also gayety) ► NOUN (pl. gaieties) 1) the state or quality of being light hearted and cheerful. 2) merrymaking; festivity. ORIGIN French gaieté … English terms dictionary
gaiety — [gā′ə tē] n. [Fr gaieté] 1. the state or quality of being GAY (adj. 1); cheerfulness 2. pl. gaieties merrymaking; festivity 3. finery; showy brightness … English World dictionary
gaiety — UK [ˈɡeɪətɪ] / US noun Word forms gaiety : singular gaiety plural gaieties old fashioned 1) [uncountable] a feeling or state of happiness and fun There was genuine gaiety in his laughter. 2) gaieties [plural] events or activities that are fun … English dictionary
gaiety — [[t]ge͟ɪɪti[/t]] N UNCOUNT Gaiety is a feeling, attitude, or atmosphere of liveliness and fun. Music rang out adding to the gaiety and life of the market. Syn: joy … English dictionary
gaiety — noun 1) the gaiety of Susannah s youth had been supplanted by the cares of widowhood Syn: cheerfulness, lightheartedness, happiness, merriment, glee, gladness, joy, joie de vivre, joyfulness, joyousness, delight, high spirits, good spirits, good… … Thesaurus of popular words
gaiety — Gayety Gay e*ty, n.; pl. {Gayeties}. [Written also {gaiety}.] [F. gaiet[ e]. See {Gay}, a.] 1. The state of being gay; merriment; mirth; acts or entertainments prompted by, or inspiring, merry delight; used often in the plural; as, the gayeties… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gaiety — /gay i tee/, n., pl. gaieties. 1. the state of being gay or cheerful; gay spirits. 2. Often, gaieties. merrymaking or festivity: the gaieties of the New Year season. 3. showiness; finery: gaiety of dress. Also, gayety. [1625 35; < F gaieté, equiv … Universalium
