merry
/ˈmɛri/
adjective
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*murgijaz — pleasant, enjoyable
Overview
Meaning Now
- Cheerful and lively.
- Slightly drunk; tipsy.
Literal older meaning
pleasant, agreeable
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
myrige
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The word originally described things that were pleasant or agreeable, such as 'merry weather' or a 'merry place.' Over time, the focus shifted from external circumstances to internal human states of cheerfulness.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*murgijaz
“pleasing, enjoyable”
- Old English
myrige
“pleasant, delightful”
- Middle English
merie
“joyful, cheerful”
- Modern English
merry
“cheerful, festive”
Connections
Word parts
merry
root
cheerful
Related across languages
Old High German
murgi
short
Old Saxon
merig
pleasant
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.