English edit

Noun edit

chearfulness (uncountable)

  1. Obsolete form of cheerfulness.
    • 1682, Joseph Blagrave, “[The Effects of Directions.] The Sun Directed unto Promittors.”, in Obadiah Blagrave, editor, Blagrave’s Introduction to Astrology. In Three Parts. [], London: Printed by E. Tyler, and R. Holt, for Obadiah Blagrave, [], →OCLC, part III, page 254:
      The Sun to the Terms of Mercury. It inclineth the native to be Mercurial, given to ſtudy Arts and Sciences, and to delight in reading, and to follow his Calling with chearfulneſs.
    • 1794, Charlotte Smith, chapter IV, in The Banished Man. [], volume I, London: [] T[homas] Cadell, Jun. and W[illiam] Davies, (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) [], →OCLC, page 76:
      “Come, come,” ſaid Madame D’Alberg, forcing an appearance of chearfulneſs which ſhe was far from feeling; []
    • 1798, Augustus von Kotzebue, translated by Stephen Porter, Lovers’ Vows, or, The Child of Love. [], London: [] J. Parsons, [], page 82:
      Nature has made ſorrow and grief the companions of age, and beſtowed chearfulneſs on youth, to prepare it for the ſufferings of declining years. I never knew chearfulneſs.—My enjoyments have been the hard fare of a common ſoldier, and the ſeverity of the ſerjeant into the bargain.