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Antonyms for make merry


Grammar : Verb
Spell : mer-ee
Phonetic Transcription : ˈmɛr i



Definition of make merry

Origin :
  • Old English myrge "pleasing, agreeable, pleasant, sweet; pleasantly, melodiously," from Proto-Germanic *murgijaz, which probably originally meant "short-lasting," (cf. Old High German murg "short," Gothic gamaurgjan "to shorten"), from PIE *mreghu- "short" (see brief (adj.)). The only exact cognate for meaning outside English was Middle Dutch mergelijc "joyful."
  • Connection to "pleasure" is likely via notion of "making time fly, that which makes the time seem to pass quickly" (cf. German Kurzweil "pastime," literally "a short time;" Old Norse skemta "to amuse, entertain, amuse oneself," from skamt, neuter of skammr "short"). There also was a verbal form in Old English, myrgan "be merry, rejoice." For vowel evolution, see bury (v.).
  • Bot vchon enle we wolde were fyf, þe mo þe myryer. [c.1300]
  • The word had much wider senses in Middle English, e.g. "pleasant-sounding" (of animal voices), "fine" (of weather), "handsome" (of dress), "pleasant-tasting" (of herbs). Merry-bout "an incident of sexual intercourse" was low slang from 1780. Merry-begot "illegitimate" (adj.), "bastard" (n.) is from 1785. Merrie England (now frequently satirical or ironic) is 14c. meri ingland, originally in a broader sense of "bountiful, prosperous." Merry Monday was a 16c. term for "the Monday before Shrove Tuesday" (Mardi Gras).
  • As in joke : verb kid, tease
  • As in play : verb have fun
  • As in rejoice : verb be very happy about something
  • As in revel : verb take pleasure; celebrate
  • As in romp : verb have fun, enjoy oneself
  • As in satisfy : verb please, content
  • As in wassail : verb celebrate, toast
  • As in celebrate : verb commemorate occasion, achievement
  • As in roister : verb revel
  • As in entertain : verb amuse
  • As in exult : verb be joyful
  • As in have a ball : verb have fun
Example sentences :
  • They were all to come in and make merry, he said, but the prince he took to his own house.
  • Extract from : « Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales » by Anonymous
  • No, or she had not gathered Wimbledon about her to make merry the midnight hour.
  • Extract from : « Eventide » by Effie Afton
  • Hereupon they sat down and began to eat and drink and make merry.
  • Extract from : « The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck » by Baron Trenck
  • Make merry who might, Aucassin had no taste for it; since he saw nothing there of that he loved.
  • Extract from : « Aucassin and Nicolette » by Anonymous
  • The spit must be turning, and we can make merry with you, heart and belly.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Pool » by George Sand
  • Gamesters and lookers on alike smoke, drink, and make merry.
  • Extract from : « The Death Shot » by Mayne Reid
  • We will allow him to make merry at our next feast, eh, comrades?
  • Extract from : « The Pirate of the Mediterranean » by W.H.G. Kingston
  • A clubhouse is fitted up for the mill hands to make merry in.
  • Extract from : « Civics and Health » by William H. Allen
  • I would not allow him companions to make merry with, so as to make a pleasure of intoxication.
  • Extract from : « Peter Simple » by Frederick Marryat
  • I could dance and be merry too Arsinoe, dance and make merry with you like a madman!
  • Extract from : « The Emperor, Complete » by Georg Ebers

Synonyms for make merry

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019