jollity means the state of being jolly; jolliness, cheerfulness. It carries an Arena rating of 1680, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, jollity ranks #1,530 of 13,273 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #2,281 of 13,273 for Most Beautiful Words, #3,101 of 13,273 for Most Satisfying to Say, #3,670 of 13,274 for Most Whimsical Words.
jollity is pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɒlɪti/.
Why “jollity” is a great word
JOLLITY — [Noun] The quality or state of being jolly, characterized by cheerful merriment and festive good humor. From Middle English jolyfte, from Old French joliveté ("gaiety, cheerfulness"), from jolif ("merry, festive"). Unlike "joviality," which implies a hearty cheerfulness intrinsic to a person's character, or "mirth," which denotes the immediate spark of amusement, jollity is the sustained, ambient warmth of shared celebration. It is the glow of lamplight on a crowded, laughing table; the swelling chorus of a carol against the cold; and the convivial chaos of a meal shared with too much food and talk. This is the deliberate, almost defiant kindling of light, a temporary, necessary fiction that we are all in this together, and that it is good.
Etymology
From Middle English jolyfte, from Old French joliveté (“gaiety, cheerfulness; amorous passion; life of pleasure”), from jolif. Equivalent to jolly + -ty.
noun
- The state of being jolly; jolliness, cheerfulness.“But I pitty the flatteries, and ſelfe-applauſes of a careleſſe and impenitent heart: This jollity hath in it much danger, and vvithout ſome change, death.”
- Revelry or festivity; a merry or festive gathering.“Across the US, candidates traditionally attend rallies, barbecues and similar jollities in their states and districts.”
- Things, remarks, or characteristics which are enjoyable.“Add to this picture a jolly, crackling, rollicking fire, going rejoicingly up a great wide chimney,—the outer door and every window being set wide open, and the calico window-curtain flopping and snapping in a good stiff breeze of damp raw air,—and you have an idea of the jollities of a Kentucky tavern.”
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