a. [ad. L. festīv-us, f. festum: see FEAST and -IVE. Cf. F. festif.]
1. Of or pertaining to a feast; such as befits a feast.
1651. Sherburne, trans. Martial’s Epigr., II. xli. All festive jollities forbear.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 400.
| While the glad Circle round them yield their Souls | |
| To festive Mirth, and Wit that knows no Gall. |
1791. Burke, Th. French Affairs, Wks. 1842, I. 578. The appointment of festive anniversaries has ever in the sense of mankind been held the best method of keeping alive the spirit of any institution.
1829. Lytton, Disowned, 56. The anointed ones were in purple and festive pomp.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 108, ‘Reminiscences of My Youth.’
| Perhaps around the festive board | |
| Some aged chroniclers record | |
| Her hopes, her virtues, and her tomb. |
1869. Boutell, Arms & Arm., ii. 36. The Grecian festive games in reality were training exercises, carried on in a systematic manner, with a view to preparation for the military profession.
1888. A. K. Green, Behind Closed Doors, iv. A festive scene burst upon them, but they paid it little heed.
b. Mirthful, joyous, glad, cheerful.
1774. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. II. 4/1. His [Mapes’s] vein was chiefly festive and satirical.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. xi. Her air was not festive, she seemed abstracted and disturbed.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. v. 104. The festive character which ran through the whole transaction.
2. Of persons: Employed in, or fond of feasting; convivial, jovial. Of a place or season: Appropriated or devoted to feasting.
The festive season: spec. = ‘Christmas-tide.’
1735. Nixon, To W. Somervile, in Somervile, The Chace. The festive Night awakes th’ harmonious Lay.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 226. The parlour splendours of that festive place.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, VI.
| He enters in a banquet room, | |
| Where round a fountain brink, | |
| On silken carpets sate the festive train. |
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 353. Under the new magistrates, who belonged to a more festive party.
1857. Willmott, Pleas. Lit., xxi. 130. How we might have rejoiced … if Ben Jonson, who survived Shakspere twenty-one years, has presented to the world a short review of his friend’s festive evenings!
Hence Festively adv., in a festive manner.
1806. Wordsw., Sonn., ‘Where lies the Land,’ 2.
| Festively she [a Ship] puts forth in trim array; | |
| As vigorous as a Lark at break of day. |
1883. Pall Mall G., 20 Nov., 5/1. After studying his pages one may … keep festively the birthdays of Fraulein Goethe’s acquaintances.
