festive

English

Etymology

From French festif, from Latin festivus (pertaining to a feast, gay, lively, joyous). Equivalent to feast + -ive.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfɛstɪv/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: fes‧tive

Adjective

festive (comparative more festive, superlative most festive)

  1. Having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration.
    The room was decked out in festive streamers, with flowers everywhere.
  2. In the mood to celebrate.
    Please put the Christmas decorations away, I'm really not in a festive mood.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

French

Adjective

festive

  1. feminine singular of festif

Italian

Adjective

festive

  1. feminine plural of festivo

Latin

Etymology

From fēstīvus (joyous, festive; pleasing), from fēstus (feast-like; festive).

Adverb

fēstīvē (not comparable)

  1. agreeably, pleasantly, delightfully
  2. humorously, facetiously, wittily

References

  • festive”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • festive”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • festive in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
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