| 释义 |
▪ I. merry, n.|ˈmɛrɪ|
[altered form of merise, probably due to interpretation of the s as a plural ending.]
A kind of black cherry. Also attrib.
1595Chapman Ovid's Banq. Sence B 2 b, White and red Iessamines, Merry, Melliphill. 1707Mortimer Husb. (1721) II. 265 They [cherries] do best grafted on the Black-Cherry-stock, or the Merry-stock. 1757Cooper Distiller iii. lii. (1760) 221 The black cherry, the Merry or Honey Cherry. 1825Cobbett Rur. Rides 86 There are not many of the merries, as they call them in Kent and Hampshire. 1899Longm. Mag. Dec. 179 The wild cherry tree, or merry-tree, also known..as the ‘Gean’.
▪ II. merry, a. and adv.|ˈmɛrɪ|
Forms: 1 myiᵹe, murᵹe, myriᵹe, miriᵹe, merᵹe, 1–3 meriᵹe, 3 murȝe (compar. murgre, murgore, superl. murgost, -gust), 3–4 murye, muri, 3–5 murie, 4 murye (compar. murer), 4–5 mury; 3–4 miri(e, 4–5 myry, miry, 4–6 myrie, 4–5 myri, (5 compar. mirgurre), 5–6 Sc. mirrie, mirry, myrrie, 6 myrry, Sc. mirre; 3–6 meri, 4–5 merey, 4–6 merie, -y(e, 5 merrye, 5–6 mere, 6 Sc. meary, 6–7 merrie, 6– merry.
[OE. myr(i)ᵹe (:—OTeut, type *murgjo-), whence myrᵹð mirth; outside English the only cognate corresponding in sense is MDu. *merch, whence merchte = mirth, merchtocht rejoicing, mergelijc joyful, mergen = merry v. It is, however, probable that the word is identical with the OTeut. *murgjo- short, represented by OHG. murg-fâri lasting a short time, and by the Gothic derivative ga-maurgjan to shorten, and presumably descending, with Gr. βραχύς, from an Indogermanic mr̥ghu-.
The transition from the assumed original sense ‘short’ to the OE. sense ‘pleasant’ is somewhat difficult, but may have been brought about through the intervention of a derived factitive verb, meaning ‘to shorten’, and hence ‘to shorten time’, ‘to cheer’; cf. ON. skemta to amuse, f. skamt, neut. of skamm-r short.]
A. adj.
1. Of things: Pleasing, agreeable.
†a. Of occupations, events, or conditions: Causing pleasure or happiness; pleasing, delightful. Obs.
a merry meal: see meal n.2 2 f.
c888K. ælfred Boeth. xxxi. §1 For þy ic nat hwæt þa woruldlustas myrᵹes bringað [L. quid habeat jucunditatis] hiora lufiᵹendum. a1000Boeth. Metr. xiii. 45 Him þa twigu þincað emne swa merᵹe þat hi þæs metes ne recð. c1000ælfric Hom. (Th.) I. 154 Þeos woruld, þeah ðe heo myriᵹe hwiltidum ᵹeþuht sy. c1205Lay. 10147 Þa þuhte Elæuðerie þat tiðende swiðe murie. a1225Ancr. R. 390 He..spek swuðe sweteliche & so murie wordes þet heo muhten þe deade arearen urom deaðe to liue. c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 179/19 Guod it is and murie: breþren to wonie i-fere. c1325Spec. Gy Warw. 905 Hu murie hit were, to haue þe siht Off godes face, þat is so briht. 1435Misyn Fire of Love 57 No þinge is meriar þen lhesu to synge. 1502Atkinson tr. De Imitatione iii. vi. 200 Nothynge is more swete than is loue,..nothynge..meryer [L. jucundius]. 1567Turberv. Epit., etc. 110 b, Let others then that feelen ioy Extole the merrie Month of May.
b. † Of a place or country: Pleasant, delightful in aspect or conditions (obs.). So originally in the designation Merry England, in which the adj. was subsequently apprehended as in sense 3. Also Merrie England, freq. in ironic or satirical use; so Merrie Englander.
c1205Lay. 24964 For grið makeð godne mon gode workes wurchen,..þat lond bið þa murgre. c1250Gen. & Ex. 212 God bar him in-to paradis,..bi-taȝte him al ðat mirie stede. a1300–1400Cursor M. 8 (Gött.) Brut þat berne bolde of hand, First conquerour of meri ingland. 13..E. E. Allit. P. A. 935 Now tech me to þat myry mote [Jerusalem]. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P. R. xv. v. (Tollem, MS.), It [Armenia] is most mery londe with herbes, corne, wodes and frute. 1415Hoccleve To Sir J. Oldcastle 487 Remember yow, heuene is a miry place And helle is ful of sharp aduersitee. 1436Siege Calais in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 156 The crown of mery Yngland. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxv. 21 Edinburgh the mirry toun. 1590Spenser F. Q. i. x. 61 Saint George of mery England, the signe of victoree. 1596― Prothal. 128 To mery London, my most kyndly Nurse. [1782Cowper Gilpin 125 Thus all through merry Islington These gambols he did play. 1828Scott F. M. Perth i, Perthshire contains..tracts, which may vie with the richness of merry England herself.] 1839G. Daniel in Bentley's Misc. v. 98 (title) Merrie England in the olden time. c1882(title) Merrie England its kings & queens..with pictures and stories from English history. 1893Ladies' Home Jrnl. Feb. 13/1 The old Roman custom..was transplanted to merrie England. 1902Hood & German (title) Merrie England: a new and original comic opera in two acts. 1912A. Huxley Let. 16 June (1969) 43 It [sc. a monument] is made of a peculiar grey stone, which looks just like that horrible papier-mâché stone of which ruined castles are made in exhibitions of Merrie England. 1930E. Waugh Labels 22 The Merrie-Englanders have so eloquently upheld the cause of freedom that a subdued but smouldering resentment is now one of our national characteristics. 1946J. B. Priestley Bright Day x. 301 The war was over, democracy saved, and here was Merrie England. 1970H. Braun Parish Churches xx. 236 The happy breed of the wool-rich yeomen followed in that Merrie England which was later to turn to mourning for Englishmen clubbed to death by neighbours in the Great Rebellion. 1971B. Inglis Poverty & Industr. Revolution iv. 197 Cobbett..was far from being a Merrie Englander, in the sense of seeing the past bathed in a romantic glow. 1973Radio Times 13 Dec. 27 (caption), The redoubtable Dr Who returns..to fight The Time Warrior in not-so-merrie England: 5.10. 1974Punch 23 Oct. 654/1 Mecca had planned to build a Merrie Englande entertainment complex to rival Disneyland.
Proverbial phrase.1550Hutchinson Image of God Epist. (1560) ☛iij, It was a mery world (quod y⊇ papist) before the Bible came forth in englysh, all thinges were good chepe and plentyful. 1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. ii. 9 It was neuer merrie worlde in England, since Gentlemen came vp. 1601― Twel. N. iii. i. 109.
†c. Of sound or music: Pleasant, sweet. Hence of animals, esp. birds: Having a pleasant voice. Obs. (Cf. sense 3.)
c1000Ags. Hymn (Surtees) 141 Mid meriᵹum..lofsange dulci ymno. c1350Will. Palerne 2192 Alle men þat mut herde of þe muri houndes. c1385Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 31 His voys was murier than the murie Orgon. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 307 Þe emperour bouȝt þat mery bridde. c1400Lydg. Chorle & Bird xv, Ryngyng of feters is no mery sowne. c1420Chron. Vilod. 2101 A mery masse þer was y-songe. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xlvi. 3, I hard a merle with mirry notis sing. Ibid. 26 This mirry gentil nychtingaill. 1535Coverdale Ps. lxxx[i]. 2 Brynge hither the tabret, the mery harpe & lute.
†d. Of weather, climate, atmospheric conditions, etc.: Pleasant, fine. Of a wind: Favourable.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5697 Þe erþe ȝeld betere & þet weder was murgore by is daye & lasse tempeste in þe se þan me er ysaye. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 804 In þe myry mornyng ȝe may your waye take. 1390Gower Conf. II. 332 He telth..hou ther schon a merye Sunne. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 14412 Seuen dayes fauȝt thei to gedre, And al that while was mury wedre. c1410Love Bonavent. Mirr. v. (1510) C ij, Our Lorde God after tempeste sendethe soft and mery wedder. c1450Merlin 384 The seson was myri and softe. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 423 Euen as Gouernours of shippes..cut the waues as they are furthered with a merrie winde: euen so let us frame our studie and labour. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. i. 90 The merrie winde Blowes faire from land. 1599Hakluyt Voy (1904) IV. 360 At the next mery wind tooke shipping. 1630Winthrop New Eng. (1853) I. 18 We tacked about..with a merry gale in all our sails. 1685Dryden tr. Hor. Ode iii. xxix. 101 In my small Pinnace I can sail,..And running with a merry gale,..my safety seek..Within some little winding Creek.
fig.1402Repl. Friar D. Topias in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 72 Whi with not thi cow make myry weder in thi dish?
†e. Of dress: Handsome, gay. Obs.
a1400–50Alexander 2864 A mery mantill of mervailous hewis.
† f. Of herbs, drugs, etc.: Pleasant to the taste or smell. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 146 Ye shul haue digestyues..Of herbe yue, growyng in oure yeerd, thir mery is. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P. R. xvii. xxvii. (1495) 620 Cassia is swete and mery of smell.
†g. a merry mean: a happy medium.
1399Langl. Rich. Redeles ii. 139 But mesure is a meri mene þouȝ men moche yerne. c1460J. Russell Bk. Nurture 107 Mesure is a mery meene whan God is not displesed. a1575Gascoigne Posies, Flowers 41 Thus learne I by my glasse, that merrie meane is best. 1616Surfl. & Markh. Country Farm 580 So greatly..is the merrie meane commended.
h. Of a saying, jest, etc.: Amusing, diverting, funny. Obs. or arch., with mixture of sense 3.
c1470Henry Wallace ii. 36 Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw, He likyt weill at that mercat to be. 1530Palsgr. 244/2 Mery taunt, lardon. Ibid., Mery jeste a ryddle, sornette. 1563Homilies ii. Idolatry iii. (1859) 265 Seneca much commendeth Dionysius, for his merry robbing of such decked and jewelled puppets. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. v. ii. 175 Two of her Brothers were condemn'd to death, My hand cut off, and made a merry iest. 1595Duncan App. Etymol. (E.D.S.) 68 Facetiæ, mirrie bourds. 1632Lithgow Trav. ix. 378 There is a merry secret heere concerning the women. 1728Morgan Algiers I. vi. 185 The Notions all the Mussulmans have of the Antichrist..are really merry. Ibid. 188, I had like to have left out the very merriest Passage in the whole Story. 1769E. Bancroft Guiana 328 A variety of fables which are merry. 1849James Woodman ii, He gave me the merry book [a copy of Chaucer].
2. Of looks or appearance: † Pleasant, agreeable, bright (obs.); hence, expressive of cheerfulness, mirthful, hilarious (in modern use merged in sense 3).
a1225Leg. Kath. 314 Þi leor is, meiden, lufsum, & ti muð murie. c1250Gen. & Ex. 2258 Her non hadden ðo loten miri. 13..Seuyn Sag. (W.) 3357 The erl come with meri chere, Omang al that folk in fere. c1440Promp. Parv. 338/2 Myry yn chere, letus. 1559Passage Q. Eliz. A ij, Her grace by holding vp her handes, and merie countenaunce to such as stode farre of,..did declare her selfe [etc.]. 1703Lond. Gaz. No. 3948/4 A dun Gelding..with a round Barrel, longish Legg'd,..a merry Countenance. 1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. iii, He was a pleasant-looking fellow,..with dark hair, and a merry brown eye.
3. a. Of persons and their attributes: Full of animated enjoyment (in early use chiefly with reference to feasting or sport); joyous, mirthful, hilarious. Also of permanent temper or disposition: Given to joyousness or mirth.
the Merry Monarch: a frequent designation for Charles II. † merrymeinie (obs.), merrymen (see merry man 1): applied in ballad poetry to the followers of Robin Hood; hence sometimes used allusively.
c1320Sir Tristr. 1198 A miriman were he Ȝif he o liue ware. c1350Will. Palerne 4926 As þei muriest at þe mete þat time seten, þer come menskful messageres. c1375Cursor M. 4812 (Fairf.) Quen þai saghe þer corne plente Murer [earlier texts gladder, bliþer] men miȝt neuer be. a1380Min. Poems fr. Vernon MS. 680 Whon men beoþ muryest at heor Mele: I rede ȝe þenke on ȝusterday. c1400Destr. Troy 4787 Mery was the menye & maden gret Ioye. c1461E.E. Misc. (Warton Cl.) 48 The boy was mery y-nowe. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxv. 27 Bring ȝow sone to Edinburgh ioy, For to be mirry amang ws. c1510Lytell Geste Robyn Hood iv. in Neuengl. Leseb. (1895) I. 180/14 And he founde there Robyn hode And all hys mery meyne. Ibid. v. 180/115 Buske you my mery yonge men. 1513More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 784 King Edward woulde say that he had three concubines,..one, the meriest, one the wyliest, the thirde the holyest harlot in the realme... But the meriest was Shores wife. 1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. i. ii. 27 He is melancholy without cause, and merry against the haire. 1632Lithgow Trav. iii. 90, I was exceeding merry with my old friends. c1665Rochester Sat. on King 19 Restless he rolls about from Whore to Whore A merry Monarch, scandalous, and poor. 1712Steele Spect. No. 462 ⁋5 This very Mayor afterwards erected a statue of his merry Monarch in Stocks-Market. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxv, Poor Ludovico would be as merry as the best of them, if he was well. 1832W. Irving Alhambra II. 262 His memory was always cherished as that of a merry companion. 1849James Woodman ii, She was the merriest little abbess in the world.
†b. Happy. Obs.
a1380S. Ambrosius 426 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 15/1 He..wepte for holymen and murie Þat passed weren vp to glorie. 1388Wyclif Job xxi. 23 This yuel man dieth..riche and blesful, that is, myrie. 1513More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 781 The true Lorde Hastinges..was neuer merier, nor thought his life in more suretie in all his dayes. 1529More in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880) 12, I pray you be with my..household mery in God.
transf.1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 184 [Silkworms] will be no where merry nor vsefull, but where are store of Mulbery Trees.
c. Pleasantly amused; hence, facetious, ‘pleasant’. Const. with, on, upon (a person). Obs. or arch. (Cf. make merry, 3 e below.)
1607Shakes. Timon iii. ii. 42, I know his Lordship is but merry with me. 1703Rowe Fair Penit. Ded., There is hardly such a thing as being merry, but at another's Expence. 1694Atterbury On Prov. xiv. 6, Serm. 1726 I. 195 They were Men who..took their Fill of all the Good Things of this World; and..were very merry, and very bitter upon those that did not. 1709Swift Merlin's Proph. Wks. 1755 II. i. 179 Astrology..is by no means an art to be despised, whatever Mr. Bickerstaff, or other merry gentlemen are pleased to think. 1714Spectator No. 573 (init.), You are pleased to be very merry, as you imagine, with us Widows. 1772Foote Nabob i. 17 You are merry, Sir. 1831Lytton Godolphin 9 You are merry on me, I see.
d. Hilarious from drink; slightly tipsy. (Cf. market merry.)
1575–6Durham Depos. (Surtees) 287 The said Sr Richerd, being mery with drinke, maid a quarrell to this examinate. Ibid. 288 The said Sr Richerd will be mery with drinke ther, but not dronken. 1681Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 134 Mr. Verdon..returning home pretty merry, took occasion to murder a man on the road. 1719D'Urfey Pills III. 7 Drunk, which the vulgar call merry. 1838James Robber vi, Doveton, who was beginning to get merry, and eke good-humoured in his cups.
e. Phrases. to make merry (refl. and intr.): to be festive or jovial; to indulge in feasting and jollity. to make merry (over, † with): to make fun (of), to ridicule. merry hell: see hell n. 10 q.
c1320Sir Tristr 3085 Boþe seiȝe he Wiþ too houndes mirie made. c1350Will Palerne 1880 Make we vs merie for mete haue we at wille. c1440Cast. Persev. 2709 Make us mery, & lete hym gone! he was a good felawe. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xiii. 32 Sum makis him mirry at the wynis. 1530Palsgr. 625/2 Make mery, syrs, we shall go hence to morowe. 1628Earle Microcosm., Tavern (Arb.) 33 Men come heere to make merry. 1761Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxviii. 135 The people made merry with the Cardinal's ostentation. 1771Goldsm. Hist. Eng. II. 403 The people made merry with this absurd and brutal statute. 1791Gentl. Mag. 19/1 My horse took fright at some hay-makers who were carouzing and making merry. 1832Tennyson Pal. Art 3 Oh, soul, make merry and carouse. 1890Sat. Rev. 25 Oct. 481/2 He makes merry over their deficiencies.
f. In proverbs and proverbial comparisons. the more the merrier. (See also cricket n.1 1 d, grig n.1 5.)
13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 850 Bot vchon enle we wolde were fyf, Þe mo þe myryer. 13..K. Alis. 1163 Swithe mury hit is in halle, When the burdes wawen alle. 1546J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 65 It is mery in halle, when berds wag all. 1562― Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 433 Tis good to be mery and wyse: How shall fooles folow that aduyse? 1564Pilkington Let. Wks. (Parker Soc.) Pref. 7 The bishop of Man liveth here at ease, and as merry as Pope Joan. 1595Shakes. John iv. i. 18, I should be as merry as the day is long. 1614B. Jonson Barth. Fair (1631) i. vi. 83, I, and Salomon too, Win, (the more the merrier) Win, we'll leaue Rabby Busy in a Booth. a1643W. Cartwright Ordinary iii. iv, I'l be As merry as a Pismire. a1745Swift Direct. Servants, Footman, Live a short life and a merry one. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 337 He knew how to be merry and wise. 1792Burns ‘Here's a health to them that's awa'’, It's gude to be merry and wise, It's gude to be honest and true. 1811Jane Austen Sense & Sens. II. iii. 38 The more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable for them to be together. 1873Hamerton Intell. Life i. v. (1876) 29 Merry as a lark. 1874Trollope Way we live Now (1875) I. xxxiii. 208 The more the merrier. Ruby'll have enough for the two o' you, I'll go bail. 1922E. O'Neill Hairy Ape (1923) v. 47 De more de merrier when I gits started. 1928A. Huxley Point Counter Point xi. 168 The more the merrier was her principle; or if ‘merrier’ were too strong a word, at least the noisier, the more tumultuously distracting. 1952‘M. Cost’ Hour Awaits 28 The more the merrier,..for with her cousins also crowding the Hotel, additional ‘cover’ would be afforded. 1974‘D. Fletcher’ Lovable Man ii. 120, I moved over to features. More the merrier. I'm free-lance now.
4. Of times or seasons: Characterized by festivity or rejoicing.
1567[see 1]. 1596Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, v. iii. 38 Welcome merry Shrouetide. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 87 To keepe a merry Christmas. 1667Ld. Sandwich Let. in Sir W. Temple's Wks. (1720) II. 136, I wish you a very merry Christmas. 1710Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Dec., But first I will wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 1710–11Ibid. 25 Mar., 25. Morning. I wish you a merry new year: this is the first day of the year, you know, with us. 1843Dickens Christmas Carol iii. They wished each other Merry Christmas in their can of grog.
5. Special collocations: † merry-bout, slang, an act of sexual intercourse; † merry main (see main n.3 1), a game at dice; † merry Monday, the Monday before Shrove Tuesday; merry night, north. dial., a night given up to festivities and sport. For merry dancers, Greek, grig, pin, see dancer 5, Greek n. 5, grig n.1 5, pin n. 11. See also merry-andrew, merry-man, etc.
1780Newgate Cal. V. 314 Being asked..if she thought it proper for a woman of decency to ask another ‘how she did after this *merry-bout’, and ‘whether she thought a rape was a merry-bout’. 1665*Merry main [see main n.3 1]. 1667Dryden Secr. Love iv. i, Come, gentlemen, let's lose no time: While they are talking, let's have one merry main before we die, for mortality sake. 1729Gay Polly iii. (1772) 198 Does not this drum-head here,..tempt you to fling a merry main or two?
1565in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 35 Monday next before Fasten's eve or Shrovetide called *Merry Monday.
1803R. Anderson Cumbld. Ball. 65 Aa, lad! sec a *murry-neet we've hed at Bleckell. 1819Wordsw. Waggoner ii. 30 'Tis the village Merry-Night! 1837Penny Cycl. VIII. 223/2 Cumbrian peasantry have various festive meetings, called the kirn, or harvest-home, sheep-shearing, merry nights, and upshots.
6. Comb.
a. parasynthetic, as merry-conceited, merry-eyed, merry-faced, merry-hearted, merry-lipped, merry-minded, merry-witted adjs.
1547–64Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) 6 Aristippus..was a merry-witted fellow. 1548Sir P. Hoby in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) II. App. Y. 79, I hear say he is a man somewhat aged and merry-conceited when he list. 1611Bible Isa. xxiv. 7 All the merrie hearted doe sigh. 1625K. Long tr. Barclay's Argenis iv. xii. 277 He was..merry-conceited in words. 1648–60Hexham, Klucht-sinnigh, Merrie-minded. 1684Otway Atheist iii. i, You Plump-cheek'd merry-ey'd Rogue. 1816L. Hunt To J. H. 20 It [sc. a mouth] breaks into such sweetness, With merry-lipped completeness. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. vi, The merry-faced gentleman sent round the punch. 1851Ruskin Stones Ven. (1874) I. xx. 220 Clear, crisp, ringing, merry-minded waves.
b. quasi-adv. with another adj.
a1618Sylvester Auto-machia 125 Sailing all my Life On merry-sorry Seas. 1865Kingsley Herew. x, They are laughing and roaring now, merry-mad every one of them.
B. adv.
a. = merrily.
c1220Bestiary 570 Mirie ȝe singeð ðis mere. c1320Seuyn Sag. (W.) 556 Foules songe therinne murie. c1381Chaucer Parl. Foules 592 Daunsith he murye that is myrtheles? 14..Sir Beues 107 (MS. E.) Bellys he herde merye rynge. 14..Arth. & Merl. 2485 (Kölbing) He was grauen & layd full merrye In the towne of Glasenburye. 1546Supplic. Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.) 87 They wedde and bury, and synge ful mery, but all for money. 1567Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.) 68 We suld..Without ony dissemmillance Be blyith, and myrrie sing.
b. Comb., as merry-running, merry-singing, merry-turned; merry-begot, -begotten dial., illegitimate; also n., a bastard.
1549Chaloner Erasm. on Folly L j b, With suche taunts and meritourned answers they provoke men to laughter. 1593Nashe Christs T. Wks. (Grosart) V. 109 The younger men in their merry-running Madrigals. 1606Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. ii. Magnif. 1133 A willing Troup of merry-singing Swains. 1785Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Merry begotten, a bastard. 1890Hall Caine Bondman i. vi, Maybe you think it nice to bring up your daughter with the merry-begot of any ragabash that comes prowling along.
▪ III. † merry, v. Obs.
[OE. myrᵹan (:—*murgjan), related to myrᵹe merry a.]
1. intr. To be merry.
c1000Ags. Ps. (Th.) xlvi. 1 Fæᵹniað and myrᵹað Gode mid wynsumre stemne. a1310in Wright Lyric P. xiv. 45 In May hit murgeth when hit dawes. c1460Towneley Myst. xiii. 714 Lo, he merys; lo, he laghys, my swetyng.
2. trans. To make (a person, etc.) merry.
a1310in Wright Lyric P. xiii. 44 Wowes this wilde drakes, Miles murgeth huere makes. c1400Pride of Life (Brandl, 1898) 296 A ha, solas, now þou seist so þou miriest me in my mode. 1627–77Feltham Resolves i. xxv. 44 Though pleasure merries the Senses for a while: yet horror after vulturs the unconsuming heart. |
