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JOLLY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: jollied , jollier , jolliest
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A yawl used by a ship's sailors for general work
Synonyms:
jolly; jolly boat
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("jolly" is a kind of...):
yawl (a ship's small boat (usually rowed by 4 or 6 oars))
Sense 2
Meaning:
A happy party
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("jolly" is a kind of...):
party (an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment)
Domain region:
Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)
Derivation:
jolly (be silly or tease one another)
jolly (full of or showing high-spirited merriment)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Full of or showing high-spirited merriment
Example:
a mirthful laugh
Synonyms:
gay; jocund; jolly; jovial; merry; mirthful
Classified under:
Similar:
joyous (full of or characterized by joy)
Derivation:
jolliness; jollity (feeling jolly and jovial and full of good humor)
jolly (a happy party)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Be silly or tease one another
Example:
After we relaxed, we just kidded around
Synonyms:
banter; chaff; jolly; josh; kid
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "jolly" is one way to...):
bait; cod; rag; rally; razz; ride; tantalise; tantalize; taunt; tease; twit (harass with persistent criticism or carping)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
jolly (a happy party)
IV. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
To certain extent or degree
Example:
he is fairly clever with computers
Synonyms:
fairly; jolly; middling; moderately; passably; pretty; reasonably; somewhat
Classified under:
Context examples:
He has been so kind and jolly that we all got quite fond of him.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I have served under Sir Thomas de Bray, who was as jolly as a pie, and a lusty swordsman until he got too fat for his harness.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“They liked a bit o' fun, they did. They wasn't so high and dry, nohow, but took their fling, like jolly companions every one.”
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
I gave Mr. Peggotty to understand that she was as jolly as I could wish, and that she desired her compliments—which was a polite fiction on my part.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
He was more jolly and cheerful than usual, and it is quite evident that last night's work has helped to take some of the brooding weight off his mind.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
So that was all we could draw from him; but, young as I was, I had heard of coast smuggling and of packages carried to lonely places at night, so that from that time on, if I had heard that the preventives had made a capture, I was never easy until I saw the jolly face of Champion Harrison looking out of his smithy door.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
No, don't cry, but hear what a jolly plan I've got.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I should look with a more loving eye upon a jolly archer who never harmed a fallen foe and never feared a hale one.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Once we got the ship and treasure both and off to sea like jolly companions, why then we'll talk Mr. Hawkins over, we will, and we'll give him his share, to be sure, for all his kindness.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
He inquired, under a shed in the playground, into the particulars of my punishment, and was pleased to express his opinion that it was a jolly shame; for which I became bound to him ever afterwards.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
