Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer: a jovial host.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Pertaining to or characteristic of the god Jove or Jupiter; Jove-like; powerful; majestic: as, Jovial attributes.
- Of or pertaining to the planet Jupiter: as, the Jovial satellites.
- In astrology, under the influence of the planet Jupiter; derived from Jupiter as a natal planet, which, like Jove himself, was regarded as the source of joy and happiness: as, the Jovial temperament.
- Hence [lowercase] Characterized by cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous; merry; jolly: opposed to grave: as, a jovial fellow.
- [lowercase] In alchemy, of or pertaining to tin.
- Synonyms Mirthful, etc. See jolly.
Wiktionary
- adj. Pertaining to Jove or Zeus; Jovian.
- adj. Pertaining to the planet Jupiter.
- adj. Under the influence of the planet Jupiter (considered a source of happiness).
- adj. Merry; cheerful and good-humored.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Of or pertaining to the god, or the planet, Jupiter.
- adj. Sunny; serene.
- adj. Gay; merry; joyous; jolly; mirth-inspiring; hilarious; characterized by mirth or jollity
WordNet 3.0
- adj. full of or showing high-spirited merriment
Etymologies
- French, probably from Italian giovale, from Old Italian, of Jupiter (regarded as the source of happiness), from Late Latin Ioviālis, from Latin Iuppiter, Iov-, Jupiter; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“He was described as "jovial" and "down to earth," a good communicator with a sense of humor.”
The Washington Post: GOP activists in Iowa divided on whether Palin can carry 2012 banner
“When I go to a doctor or other medical professional, I'm not interested in "jovial and informal" because it is NOT A SOCIAL CALL.”
“But who shall do justice to the dinner, and describe the turkey, and chickens, and chicken pies, with all that endless variety of vegetables which the American soil and climate have contributed to the table, and which, without regard to the French doctrine of courses, were all piled together in jovial abundance upon the smoking board?”
“Bobby Jindal has enough problems in his state to keep him busy for awhile and Mike Huckabee seems to be known as a jovial and cheerful talk show host more than a serious presidential candidate at the moment.”
“During the break a jovial Simpson talked outside the courtroom about golf and college football.”
“A hippy who is under the awesomely misguided impression that s/he (although it's usually a he) is providing some kind of jovial, convivial atmosphere.”
“The albums 'title track, which features Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend), is a light-hearted afro-pop tune that brings the word "jovial" to mind.”
“Former Nick's Pick Michel Houellebecq is profiled here by "jovial" per the LA Weekly's Brendan Bernhard novelist Sam Lipsyte*.”
“Where you might formerly have heard jovial, and it may be profane and obscene songs; you may now hear psalms and hymns of praise sung to God, and to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“At first I tried to diffuse some of the tension: at first I tried to act relaxed and jovial, mainly so as to differentiate myself from the protest, what with acquaintances being behind the glass and all.”
The Huffington Post: Alex Brant-Zawadzki: How to Lose Your Home: Curing My Perception Deficiency
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘jovial’.
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Programming Languages
The last time someone tried this theme, it was a closed list with only two words; time to make amends. Scripting languages, etc. are also fair game...
c, c++, java, pascal, delphi, python, perl, lisp, algol, cobol, ada, apl and 121 more...
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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Happy
joyous, jovial, glad, merry, delightful, ecstatic, cheerful, euphoria, jolly, lively, upbeat, pleasant and 1 more...
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Chelsea's list
acedia, braggadocio, abnegation, equanimity, flibbertigibbet, edentulous, debonair, hypnotic, pococurante, logorrhea, euonym, feckless and 23 more...
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no. 2
lethargic, draining, bane of one's life, hectic, mission, downer, annoying, a pain in the pro..., proverbial, stressful, not ideal, debilitating and 20 more...
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Verbal Advantage List
ostensible, paraphrase, digress, uncanny, candor, morose, adept, saturated, pragmatic, congenial, capricious, blatant and 487 more...
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Amusing words
interesting words
bonce, furcate, tapioca, tillage, desalinate, garish, litmus, roadhog, azoic, haberdasher, imbroglio, polliwog and 802 more...
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Dictionary.com Words of the Days of 1999
1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008
emolument, palindrome, deprecate, bivouac, umbrage, incipient, dapple, pugnacious, capitulate, susurrus, thaumaturgy, capacious and 229 more...
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Vocab++
Words as I learn them.
fetid, mezzanine, hiatus, austerity, subliminal, resplendent, implacable, impugn, debase, exiguous, cirque, holster and 2536 more...
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africasunsets's list
serendipity, fragrance, glamour, smitten, nourish, lavish, luxury, wicked, gem, daring, soothe, fantasy and 192 more...
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Happy, happy, joy, joy.
Feel good words.
great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, exhilaration, exuberance, bliss, felicity and 95 more...
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KaeZoo's Words
flingers, unhinged, driven, flanked, arboreal, venerable, endearing, iconoclastic, fletcher, competent, fireproof, cavernous and 215 more...
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Namesakes
Words derived from names, be they historical, literary, or mythological.
quixotic, aphrodesiac, cereal, odyssey, jovial, mercurial, erotic, achilles' heel, confucianism, lovecraftian, narcissism, echo and 92 more...
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Expressions
(Facial)
pained, pitiful, reproachful, annoyed, dismissive, excited, eager, spiteful, contemptuous, passive, calm, nervous and 155 more...
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Words
My list of words.
veritable, facetious, nadir, quixotic, apropos, acquiesce, ostensible, insipid, egregious, inveterate, coax, adroit and 409 more...
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feeling words
twitterpated, loquacious, ambiguous, pensive, sluggish, anxious, adventurous, curious, abandoned, absent-minded, abrasive, abused and 653 more...
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