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Merry vs Cheer - What's the difference?

merry | cheer |

As a proper noun merry

is originally a nickname for a merry person.

As a noun cheer is

land, country, state, territory, shore.

merry

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Adjective

(er)
  • Jolly and full of high spirits
    • We had a very merry Christmas.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
  • Festive and full of fun and laughter
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
    • f I have the chance, I will make our worshipful Sheriff pay right well for that which he hath done to me. Maybe I may bring him some time into Sherwood Forest and have him to a right merry feast with us.
    Everyone was merry at the party.
  • Brisk
    • The play moved along at a merry pace.
  • Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight.
    • a merry jest
  • * Spenser
    • merry wind and weather
  • (euphemistic) drunk; tipsy
    • Some of us got a little merry at the office Christmas party.

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete) mery

    Derived terms

    * Merry Christmas * Merry Eid

    Synonyms

    * happy * gay * content * joyful * cheerful * pleased * exultant * ecstatic * jovial

    Antonyms

    * miserable * unhappy

    Derived terms

    * merrier * merrily * merriment

    cheer

    English

    Noun

  • (obsolete) The face.
  • *:
  • *:And soo on the morne they were alle accorded that they shold departe eueryche from other / And on the morne they departed with wepynge chere / and euery kny?t took the way that hym lyked best
  • *, I.50:
  • *:Heraclitus taking pitie and compassion of the very same condition of ours, was continually seene with a sad, mournfull, and heavie cheere , and with teares trickling downe his blubbered eyes.
  • (obsolete) One's expression or countenance.
  • *1596 , (Edmund Spenser), (The Faerie Queene) , V.7:
  • *:‘thorough evill rest of this last night, / Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be; / That by your change of cheare is easie for to see.’
  • (archaic) One's attitude, mood.
  • *1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , (w) VI:
  • *:And anon he talked with them, and sayde unto them: be of good chere , it is I, be not afrayed.
  • *Holinshed
  • *:The parentsfled away with heavy cheer .
  • (uncountable) A cheerful attitude; gaiety; mirth.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • *:I have not that alacrity of spirit, / Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.
  • That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment.
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
    • , chapter=1, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=“
  • A cry expressing joy, approval or support such as "hurray".
  • :
  • * (1809-1892)
  • *:Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street.
  • A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

  • To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up .
    • We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.
  • To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
  • * Dryden
    • The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered .
  • (ambitransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.
    • The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.
    The crowd cheered the athletes.

    Derived terms

    * cheerful * cheer on * cheers * cheer up * cheery * in good cheer * wotcher