gladder

English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɡlædə(ɹ)/
- Audio (Southern England): (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English gladere, from Old English glædra (adj), glador (adverb), comparative of glæd (“glad, shining, bright”). More at glad.

Adjective

gladder

comparative form of glad: more glad

Etymology 2

From gladder (“one who makes glad”), or perhaps from Middle English *gladderen, from Old English *gladrian (“to make glad”), equivalent to glad +‎ -er (fequentative suffix).

Verb

gladder (third-person singular simple present gladders, present participle gladdering, simple past and past participle gladdered)

(nonstandard, proscribed, rare) Alternative form of gladden
- 1909, Country Correspondence, Political Department, 1800-[1804]:
  Under the auspicious influence of the Company's just and equitable administration, the face of this province is gladdered ^[sic]—the blossoms of Peace are blowing and the blessings of tranquility increasing daily [...]
- 2006, Pūrana Siṅgha, Sāhitya Akādemī, The knock at midnight:
  The light of snow has gladdered the heart [...]

Middle English

Alternative forms

glader

Etymology

From Old English *gladere (“gladder”), from gladian (“to make glad”).

Noun

gladder (plural gladders)

One who makes glad or gives joy.
- late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2223-2224:
  [...] Thou glader of the mount of Citheroun,
  For thilke love thou haddest to Adoun, [...]
  [...] Thou maker of joy of the mount of Citheron,
  For that same love thou haddest to Adonis, [...]

References

“gladder”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.