MERRILY
happily, merrily, mirthfully, gayly, blithely, jubilantly
(adverb) in a joyous manner; “they shouted happily”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adverb
merrily (comparative more merrily, superlative most merrily)
In a cheerful or merry way.
Source: Wiktionary
Mer"ri*ly, adv. Etym: [From Merry.]
Definition: In a merry manner; with mirth; with gayety and laughter;
jovially. See Mirth, and Merry.
Merrily sing, and sport, and play. Granville.
MERRY
Mer"ry, a. [Compar. Merrier; superl. Merriest.] Etym: [OE. merie,
mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, AS. merge, myrige, pleasant; cf.
murge, adv.; prob. akin to OHG. murg, short, Goth. gamaúrgjan 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.
They drank, and were merry with him. Gen. xliii. 34.
I am never merry when I hear sweet music. Shak.
2. Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy.
Is any merry Jas. v. 13.
3. Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, merry jest.
"Merry wind and weather." Spenser. Merry dancers. See under Dancer.
– Merry men, followers; retainers. [Obs.]
His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. Chaucer.
– To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with
mirth. Judg. ix. 27.
Syn.
– Cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious; gleeful; joyous;
mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious.
Mer"ry, n. (Bot.)
Definition: A kind of wild red cherry.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition