c. 1300, from Anglo-French joyous, Old French joios "happy, cheerful, merry, glad" (12c., Modern French joyeux), from joie (see joy). Related: Joyously; joyousness.

"ecstatically joyous or exalted," 1670s, from rapture + -ous. Related: Rapturously (1660s).

fem. proper name, from Latin serena, fem. of serenus "clear, bright, fair, joyous" (see serene).

masc. proper name, from Latin, literally "solemn, joyous, festive" (see feast (n.)).

late 12c., blisfulle, "glad, happy, joyous; full of the glory of heaven," from bliss (n.) + -ful. Related: Blissfully; blissfulness.

c. 1400, "joyous;" 1520s, "highly pleasing, affording great pleasure or satisfaction," from delight (n.) + -ful. Related: Delightfully; delightfulness.

1650s, "pertaining to a feast," from Latin festivus "festive, joyous, gay," from festum "festival, holiday," noun use of neuter of adjective festus "joyful, merry" (see feast (n.)). The word is unattested in English from 1651 to 1735 (it reappears in a poem by William Somervile, with the sense "fond of feasting, jovial"), and the modern use may be a back-formation from festivity. Meaning "mirthful, joyous" in English is attested by 1774. Related: Festively; festiveness.

When the Day crown'd with rural, chaste Delight

Resigns obsequious to the festive Night;

The festive Night awakes th' harmonious Lay,

And in sweet Verse recounts the Triumphs of the Day.

[Somervile, "The Chace"]

Earlier adjectives in English based on the Latin word were festival "pertaining to a church feast" (late 14c.); festful "joyous" (early 15c.), festial "pertaining to a church feast" (early 15c.), festli "fond of festivity" (late 14c.).

c. 1400, "to glisten, be dazzling," probably from Old English *glimsian "shine faintly," part of the group of Germanic words in *gl- having to do with "smooth; shining; joyous," from PIE root *ghel- (2) "to shine." If so, the unetymological -p- would be there to ease pronunciation. From mid-15c. as "to glance with the eyes;" from 1779 as "catch a quick view." Related: Glimpsed; glimpsing.

also merry-making, "a convivial entertainment, a mirthful festival," 1714, from an inversion of the verbal phrase make merry "be happy, be cheerful, be joyous, frolic" (late 14c.); see make (v.) + merry (adj.). The earlier noun was merry-make (1570s). Related: Merry-maker (1827).

"to make cheerful, lively, or merry; render glad or joyous," 1530s, from Latin exhilaratus "cheerful, merry," past participle of exhilarare "gladden, cheer," from ex "out, out of; thoroughly" (see ex-) + hilarare "make cheerful," from hilarus "cheerful" (see hilarity). Related: Exhilarated; exhilarating.