merriment C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈmɛrimənt/ UK /ˈmɛrimənt/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun gaiety and fun; lively cheerfulness The hall rang with the merriment of the wedding feast. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · gaiety and fun; lively... gaietymirthjollityhilaritycheergleefestivityconviviality ↔ Opposites gloomsadnesssorrowmelancholy Word family Related forms merrymerrilymerrymaking Etymology AI details From merry (Old English myrge 'pleasant') + -ment, the noun-forming suffix borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin -mentum. myrge Old English *murgijaz Proto-Germanic View etymology graph -> Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # merriment **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈmɛrimənt/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈmɛrimənt/ ## Meanings 1. gaiety and fun; lively cheerfulness ## Examples - The hall rang with the merriment of the wedding feast. ## Synonyms - gaiety - mirth - jollity - hilarity - cheer - glee - festivity - conviviality ## Antonyms - gloom - sadness - sorrow - melancholy ## Related Forms - merry - merrily - merrymaking ## Roots and Affixes - Root: myrge - Root: *murgijaz ## Etymology From merry (Old English myrge 'pleasant') + -ment, the noun-forming suffix borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin -mentum. ## AI Etymology Merriment comes from merry (Old English myrge 'pleasant') + -ment, the noun-forming suffix borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin -mentum. The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As a noun, it carries the sense "gaiety and fun; lively cheerfulness", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English myrge and Proto-Germanic *murgijaz. Related words include merry, merrily, merrymaking. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown