jovial
adjective
Cheerful and friendly; good-humored and convivial.
Etymology
From French jovial, from Italian gioviale, from Late Latin Jovialis "of Jupiter," the god associated with good fortune. Those born under Jupiter were thought to be cheerful.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The jovial host made everyone feel welcome."
- 2.
"His jovial manner put nervous guests at ease."
- 3.
"The office had a jovial atmosphere during the holidays."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Jovial comes from Jove (Jupiter), king of the Roman gods. Astrologers believed planetary positions at birth affected personality. Jupiter meant good fortune and cheerfulness; Saturn meant gloom (hence "saturnine").
Word Game Tips
Letters: 6 letters (J, O, V, I, A, L)
Scrabble Value: 16 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "JOVIAL" appears in many related words.
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