[f. as prec. + -ITY.] The quality of being convivial; the enjoyment of festive society, festivity; (of persons) convivial spirit or disposition.
1773. Virginia Gaz., 4 Feb., 1/2. The shaking Hand, the aching Head, and nauseating Stomach, all warned him in vain; the Lassitude of the Morning was lost in the Conviviality of the Evening.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1779, Sept. A man of sterling good sense, information, discernment, and conviviality.
1794. Malone, Life Sir J. Reynolds, 51 (R.). These extemporaneous entertainments were often productive of greater conviviality.
1817. Sir D. Wilkie in Four C. Eng. Lett., 472. The dinner was given quite in the ancient style of Border conviviality.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, iv. 84. His disqualifications for the coarsest forms of conviviality.
b. pl. Convivial practices, festivities.
1830. Cunningham, Brit. Paint., I. 263. In the course of his … convivialities he was attacked with a serious illness.
