Crossword clues for jovial
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
-
[capitalized] 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. Sunny; serene. [Obs.] ``The heavens always joviall.''
--Spenser.-
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.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1580s, "under the influence of the planet Jupiter," from Middle French jovial (16c.), from Italian joviale, literally "pertaining to Jupiter," and directly from Latin Iovialis "of Jupiter," from Iovius (used as genitive of Iuppiter) "Jupiter," Roman god of the sky (see Jove). The meaning "good-humored, merry," is from astrological belief that those born under the sign of the planet Jupiter are of such dispositions. Related: Jovially.
Wiktionary
a. 1 (context obsolete English) Pertaining to Jove or Zeus; Jovian. 2 (context obsolete English) Pertaining to the planet Jupiter; Jovian. 3 (context astrology obsolete English) Under the influence of the planet Jupiter (considered a source of happiness). 4 merry; cheerful and good-humored.
WordNet
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]
Wikipedia
Jovial may refer to:
- JOVIAL programming language
- Jovial (watch), a Swiss manufacturer of watches
- Brice Jovial (born 1984), French football striker
- The archaic adjectival form of the god or planet Jupiter
Usage examples of "jovial".
I do love a song, I--being a companionable soul and jovial withal, aye, a very bawcock of a boy, I.
Barrios is drinking himself to death in jovial company away somewhere on his fundacion beyond the Bolson de Tonoro.
He was a man of a jovial and easy-going disposition, and with his look of health one would not have prophesied so soon an end as came to him.
As we returned to the palace the conversation was affectionate on his side and jovial on mine, but I could see he was in some trouble, and guessed what was the matter.
I tied Danseuse to her post outside the Jovial Rushcutters and my face was aflame.
In the great liners, there were masked balls and the advent of King Jupiter, come to play jovial pranks on neophyte travelers, and even in the meaner ships it was a ferial day.
Given a choice I would rather go with Strome to face Kroun down again than pretend to be jovial to the customers.
Mr Sparrow is ever present, clasping mawleys and spouting opinions, ever the jovial host.
It was therefore agreed that the young people of both families should visit each other frequently for the future, and the friendship of course lasted as long as the jovial old mediatrix was there to keep the peace.
Round-faced, jovial, and with friendly gestures that usually included cigars for his customers, Okey looked the part of a drummer.
Jovial Rushcutters was one Meg Storey who, in her manner and in the teasing fullness of her breasts, slightly resembled Rosie Pierpoint, and to whom, in consequence, I was involuntarily drawn.
Hans did not see that Frank was little like his usual jovial self, and he did not know in what a turbulent state of mind the unfortunate plebe was left.
Uncle Hafiz sounded more relaxed than Rafik had ever heard him, almost jovial.
The ranchman, who is half-hunter, half-stockman, and his wife are jovial, hearty Welsh people from Llanberis, who laugh with loud, cheery British laughs, sing in parts down to the youngest child, are free hearted and hospitable, and pile the pitch-pine logs half-way up the great rude chimney.
En menos que tose un viejo, nuestro Ricardo, redivivo y jovial, tripulaba el ascensor de la residencia de la baronesa de Servus.