a. Forms: 5 cher-, 5–6 chere-, 6 cheare-, 6–7 cheere-, 7–8 chearfull, (-ful, -fulle), cheerfull, 7– cheerful. [f. CHEER sb. + -FUL.]
1. Full of cheer; of good cheer; joyous, gladsome, blithe, lively and in good spirits.
a. of persons, their disposition, looks, etc.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XVII. 7500. Þen Achilles cherfull, & his choise cosyn.
1535. Coverdale, Zech. ix. 17. The corne shall make the yonge men chearefull.
1568. Bible (Bishops’), 2 Cor. ix. 7. God loueth a cheereful [ἰλαρός; Vulg. hilaris] geuer.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, VI. 14. Egmont … soone grew cheerefuller then ever.
1660. Pepys, Diary, 13 Oct. I went out … to see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered … he looking as cheerful as any man could do in that condition.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 192, ¶ 4. A chearful Temper joined with Innocence, will make Beauty attractive.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, viii. Character, Wks. (Bohn), II. 57. As compared with the Americans, I think them [English] cheerful and contented.
b. transf. of things.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xvi. 87. Delighted with this cherefull and substanciall profession.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. ii. 1. Chearefull Chaunticlere with his note shrill.
1649. Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, Serm. ii. 89. A full, chearfull, and voluntary action.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Eclog., v. 90. With chearful Cries the Woods resound.
1726. Gay, Fables, I. xxxi. 14. Nor love, nor honour, wealth, nor pow’r, Can give the heart a chearful hour.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. VIII. 77. Our last conversation … was far from chearful.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 7. Cheerful hope and resignation.
2. Cheering, gladdening, animating; bright, enlivening, raising the spirits.
c. 1460. Pol. Rel. & Love Poems. Love … maketh hem to obeye his ordynance by cherefulle weies.
1559. Myrr. Mag., Duke Suffolk, v. 4. Fortune … Did smile upon me with a chereful light.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., I. xli. As when the cheerfull Sunne, clamping wide, Glads all the world with his vprising raye.
a. 1626. Bacon, New Atl., 5. The Chambers were handsome and chearful Chambers.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 24/1. He died … of an Apoplexy, after a full and chearful Supper.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 64. The good effects of more cheerful colours.
1814. Wordsw., Excursion, II. 514. Forth we stepped Into the presence of the cheerful light.
1855. Anne Manning, Chelsea Bun-house, iv. 71. I don’t care if I have a cheerful glass with you to improve our acquaintance.
