English

edit

Etymology

edit

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

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ˈfɛstɪv/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: fes‧tive
  • Rhymes: -ɛstɪv

Adjective

edit

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

edit

Derived terms

edit

Translations

edit

French

edit

Adjective

edit

festive

  1. feminine singular of festif

Italian

edit

Adjective

edit

festive

  1. feminine plural of festivo

Latin

edit

Etymology

edit

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

Adverb

edit

fēstīvē (not comparable)

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

References

edit
  • 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.