glee

¹ American  

[glee] / gli /

verb (used without object)

1. to squint or look with one eye.

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noun

1. a squint.

2. an imperfect eye, especially one with a cast.

glee ² American  

[glee] / gli /

noun

1. open delight or pleasure; exultant joy; exultation.

   Synonyms:

   gaiety, joviality, mirth, hilarity, jollity, merriment

2. an unaccompanied part song for three or more voices, popular especially in the 18th century.

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glee British  

/ ɡliː /

noun

1. great merriment or delight, often caused by someone else's misfortune

2. a type of song originating in 18th-century England, sung by three or more unaccompanied voices Compare madrigal

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Related Words

See mirth.

Etymology

Origin of glee¹

1250–1300; Middle English glien, gleen; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse gljā to shine

Origin of glee¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English glēo; cognate with Old Norse glȳ; akin to glow

Example Sentences

His freewheeling political rallies and frothy social media presence were, and continue to be, a source of great glee to his fans and followers.

From Los Angeles Times

The admiral showed no sign of such misgivings; he marched back and forth and twirled his cane with glee.

From Literature

But the shock soon wore off, and she began to await each postal delivery with glee.

From Literature

There’s this glee in the evolving of the two of them, which is really fun to play.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, I’m going to stick with Paulson’s obvious glee in playing a villain.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delight
• elation
• exhilaration
• exuberance
• joy
• pleasure
• verve