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A loud, deep, prolonged sound, as of a large beast, or of a person in distress, anger, mirth, etc., or of a noisy congregation.

y. Granville. The feast was served; the bowl was crowned; To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round. Prior.

liveliness, wit, or the like; a flashing forth of a quick and active mind. The unaffected mirth with which she enjoyed his sallies. Sir W. Scott.

me to an end. Ere the weary sun set in the west. Shak. Thus this century sets with little mirth, and the next is likely to arise with more mourning. Fuller.

ng; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; -- opposed to frown. Sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles: for smiles from reason flow. Milton.

To show mirth awkwardly. [R.] Tatler.

d imagination; calmness; coolness; gravity; seriousness; as, the sobriety of riper years. Mirth makes them not mad, Nor sobriety sad. Denham.

o, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief. In business of mirth and of solace. Chaucer. The proper solaces of age are not music and compliments, but wisdom and devotion. Rambler.

That which diverts, and makes mirth; pastime; amusement. It is as sport a fool do mischief. prov. x. 23. Her sports were such as carried riches of knowledge upon the stream of delight. Sir P. Sidney. Think it but a minute spent in sport. Shak.

Full of sport; merry; frolicsome; full of jesting; indulging in mirth or play; playful; wanton; as, a sportful companion. Down he alights among the sportful herd. Milton.

Without sport or mirth; joyless.

hen we are born, we cry that we are come To this stage of fools. Shak. Music and ethereal mirth Wherewith the stage of air and earth did ring. Miton.

uce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain. He talks and plays with Fatima, but his mirth Is forced and strained. Denham. The quality of mercy is not strained. Shak.

s. See Tack, v. t., 4. Monk, . . . when he wanted his ship to tack to larboard, moved the mirth of his crew by calling out, "Wheel to the left." Macaulay.

moderation; as, temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth; specifically, moderation, and sometimes abstinence, in respect to using intoxicating liquors.

Noiseless; stealthy. "With tiptoe step." Cowper. Tiptoe mirth, the highest degree of mirth. Sir W. Scott.

To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like; hence, to indulge in mirth or amusement.

A subordinate part. It should be lightened with underparts of mirth. Dryden.

in spirit or temper; zealous; ardent; fervent; excited; sprightly; irritable; excitable. Mirth, and youth, and warm desire! Milton. Each warm wish springs mutual from the heart. Pope. They say he's warm man and does not care to be madAddison. I had been none of the warmest of partisans. Hawthor

with celerity. Who heaves old ocean, and whowings the storms. Pope. Living, to wing with mirth the weary hours. Longfellow.