Merry |ˈmerē|
adjective ( merrier , merriest )
cheerful and lively : the narrow streets were dense with merry throngs of students | a merry grin.
• (of an occasion or season) characterized by festivity and rejoicing : he wished me a merry Christmas.
• [ predic. ] Brit., informal slightly and good-humoredly drunk : after the third bottle of beer he began to feel quite merry.
PHRASES
go on one’s merry way informal carry on with a course of action regardless of the consequences.
make merry enjoy oneself with others, esp. by dancing and drinking.
the more the merrier the more people or things there are, the better or more enjoyable a situation will be.
DERIVATIVES
merriness noun
ORIGIN Old English myrige [pleasing, delightful,] of Germanic origin; related to mirth .
Happy |ˈhapē|
adjective ( -pier , -piest )
1 feeling or showing pleasure or contentment : Melissa came in looking happy and excited | [with clause ] we’re just happy that he’s still alive | [with infinitive ] they are happy to see me doing well.
• [ predic. ] ( happy about) having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with (a person, arrangement, or situation) : I was never very happy about the explanation | I can’t say they looked too happy about it, but a deal’s a deal.
• [ predic. ] ( happy with) satisfied with the quality or standard of : I’m happy with his performance.
• [with infinitive ] willing to do something : we will be happy to advise you.
• (of an event or situation) characterized by happiness : we had a very happy, relaxed time.
• [ attrib. ] used in greetings : happy birthday.
• [ attrib. ] fortunate and convenient : he had the happy knack of making people like him.
2 [in combination ] informal inclined to use a specified thing excessively or at random : our litigation-happy society.
PHRASES
( as) happy as a clam ( at high tide) extremely happy.
happy hunting ground a place where success or enjoyment is obtained. [ORIGIN: originally referring to the optimistic hope of American Indians for good hunting grounds in the afterlife.]
DERIVATIVES
happiness noun
ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense [lucky] ): from the noun hap + -y 1 .
Yes, this is what I hope for you.
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Drawing by Marty Coleman
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