Forms: α. 4 iolif-, -yf-, -ive-, -yvete. β. 4–6 ioli-, ioly-, (5 golly-), 6–7 ioyli-, ioyly-, iolli-, 7– jolli-; 4–5 -te, 4–6 -tee, 6 -tye, -ti, 6–7 -tie, 6– -ty. [a. OF. jolivete, joliete, jolite, f. jolif, joli: see JOLLY a. and -TY.]
1. The quality or condition of being jolly, light-hearted, or festive; exuberant mirth or cheerfulness; † levity, giddiness (obs.).
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xxx. 89. Wymmon with the jolyfté, thou thench on Godes shoures.
1382. Wyclif, Judith x. 3. She clothide hir with the clothis of hir jolite.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3537. Quen al þe iolite of Giugne and Iulus was endid.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 73. The doughter of Iacob whiche for lyghtnes and iolyte or herte lefte the hous of her fader.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 105 b. Omnia fert ætas, both health and iolitie.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., V. Wks. 1738, II. 86. A Youth, through jollity of mind unwilling perhaps to be detain’d long with sad and sorrowful Narrations.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., III. xxv. The passion excited by beauty is … nearer to a species of melancholy, than to jollity and mirth.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxi. 238. O happiest Lovers, jollity live with you.
2. Merrymaking, festivity, revelry; pl., Festivities, festive dissipations or enjoyments.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28147. Caroles, iolites, and plaies, Ic haue be-haldyn.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxvi. 100 (Harl. MS.). The knyght yede to the tornement scil. as ofte as a man goþe to the Iolytees of worldlye speculacions.
c. 1470. Henryson, Mor. Fab., ii. (Town & C. Mouse), 292. Thus as thay sat in all their jolitie.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 109. For all my treasure spente on Iewells and spylte in iolytye, what recompence shall I reape besides repentaunce?
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. xiii. 21. It comes, like an arrest of Treason in a Jollity.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., x. § 170. Not keeping company with the other Officers of the Army in their jollities, and excesses.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 80, ¶ 7. Winter brings natural inducements to jollity and conversation.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 321. The coarse jollity of the afternoon was often prolonged till the revellers were laid under the table.
† 3. Pleasure, enjoyment; esp. sexual pleasure, lust. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 50. Knoute of his body gate sonnes þre, Tuo by tuo wifes, þe þrid in jolifte.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter ii. 10. Enuye couartis iolifte and oþer vices.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. pr. vii. 62 (Camb. MS.). Of whyche bestys al the entencyon hasteth to fulfylle hyr bodyly Iolyte.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 132. Nedes moste he fighte … For paramour and Iolitee Of oon that shoon ful brighte.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 41. [Thei] that … thought more on her iolytees and the worldes delite … thanne thei dede on the service of God.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 242. In gelt men … all vigour of lust and desire of joylity is extinguished.
† 4. Insolent presumption or self-confidence; presumptuous self-reliance. Obs.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxiv. 7. The trespasis of my ȝouthed that is my iolifte and fole hardynes.
1549. Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 112. The pore wyddowe … wyth. ii. or thre wordes shall bryng hym downe to the grounde, and destroye his iolitye.
1581. Confer., II. (1583), H, marg. And this hee spake with great iolitie & scoffingly.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. V. iii. § 6. 375. In this iollitie of conceit, he determined to fight.
† 5. Gallantry, bravery. Obs.
c. 1540. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden), I. 89. Wee will returne unto Carausius … renomed throwghe his jolitee in warfare.
† 6. A beauty, grace, or personal accomplishment. Obs.
1484. Caxton, Chivalry, 46. Yf by beaute of facion, or by a body fayr grete or wel aourned, or by fayr here … and by the other Iolytees shold a Squyer be adoubed Knyght … lowe and vyle mayst thou make Knyghtes.
† 7. A state of splendor, exaltation, or eminent prosperity; splendor, magnificence; finery of dress or array. Obs.
1549. Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 113. He shewed him al the kyngedomes of the worlde, and all theyr iolitye.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 363. In the time of Pope Boniface the Eight, when the Authority of the Bishop of Rome was in greatest iollity.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lxvi. To behold … needie Nothing trimd in iollitie.
1620. Sanderson, Serm. on 1 Kings xxi. 29 (1689), 152. To proclaim judgement against an oppressing King [Ahab] in the prime of his Jollity.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 109. The Jollity and Pomp of the Heathens is much allayed by the Puritanism and unlimited Power of the Moors.
† 8. Pleasantry, jocularity; joke, jest. Obs.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., II. lxviii. (1591), 92. Two souldiers,… vpon a iolity challenged one another to wrestle.
1596. Bp. W. Barlow, Three Serm., Ded. A 3 b. Others in their iollitie haue reported that they could neuer salute the Sunne in England.
1608. D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 106. They must … out of the humour of their jollities, give vent vnto the smoake of their Ambition.
