Cheer

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /t͡ʃɪə̯/

Definitions

1. A shout of encouragement or approval, or to shout in this manner, or the state of being happy and optimistic
2. A loud expression of support or joy that can also indicate a general feeling of happiness and encouragement in various situations
3. A vocal manifestation of approval or joy that reflects a state of optimism and can be used to uplift or motivate others

Etymology: The noun "cheer" once meant "face" rather than "shout of joy." In Old French, "chiere" meant "head, face" and also "appearance" or "countenance," and it grew to cover a welcome or hospitality, then a meal. Those senses came into Middle English as "chere," and the idea of a cheerful expression slowly shaded toward the cheering sounds people make when they are glad. The Old French word traces back to Late Latin "cara," meaning "head." So the modern sense of a happy shout is several steps removed from a word for a human head. Hospitality's association with a good meal is a useful clue: a warm face was a sign of a welcome, and a welcome often came with food. The modern verb and the shouted sense arrived later and took over from the older meanings. Today the word is also clipped from "cheerleading," so the noun form we know most readily has been shortened from a longer compound.

Synonyms: joy, glee, happiness, merriment, elation

Antonyms: sorrow, sadness, despair, gloom, misery