[f. CHEERFUL + -NESS.] Cheerful quality or state.
1. Of persons, their dispositions, etc.: Gladsomeness, joyousness, alacrity, readiness.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. iii. 2. They … fought with cherefulnesse for Israel.
1643. Milton, Divorce, I. vii. 12. There is no Christian duty that is not to be season’d and set off with cherfulnes.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxviii. 150. The soldiers do not begin the campaign with any great cheerfulness.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F. (1869), II. xliii. 600. The gravity of his manners was tempered by innocent cheerfulness.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., IV. V. xix. § 25. Cheerfulness is just as natural to the heart of a man in strong health as colour to his cheek.
b. As shown in the countenance: Liveliness.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 666. To show the gladness of the mind, by the chearfulness of the countenance.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. VIII. 96. Encouraged them by the chearfulness of his voice and countenance.
2. transf. Bright and inspiring appearance; freedom from gloom.
1612. Shelton, Quix., I. Pref. 8. The cheerefulnesse of cleere skie.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., I. 272. The cheerfulness of the village with its cabins and its gardens.
