[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

merry \mer"ry\, a. compar. merrier; superl. merriest. oe.
   merie, mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, as. merge, myrige,
   pleasant; cf. murge, adv.; prob. akin to ohg. murg, short,
   goth. gama'urgjan to shorten; cf. l. murcus a coward, who
   cuts off his thumb to escape military service; the
   anglo-saxon and english meanings coming from the idea of
   making the time seem short. cf. mirth.
   1. laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good
      spirits; jovial; inclined to laughter or play; sportive.
      1913 webster

            they drank, and were merry with him.  --gen. xliii.
                                                  34.
      1913 webster

            i am never merry when i hear sweet music. --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy.
      1913 webster

            is any merry? let him sing psalms.    --jas. v. 13.
      1913 webster

   3. causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, a merry
      jest. "merry wind and weather." --spenser.
      1913 webster

   merry dancers. see under dancer.

   merry men, followers; retainers. obs.
      1913 webster

            his merie men commanded he
            to make him bothe game and glee.      --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   to make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to
      feast with mirth. --judg. ix. 27.
      1913 webster

   syn: cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious; gleeful;
        joyous; mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious.
        1913 webster
see also:
merrier merriest mirth merry dancers dancer merry men 
to make merry 

Merry >> M Words
Merry, definition of term: Merry
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