Glewe

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for joy, mirth, or merry cheerfulness, as expressed in older English writing
2. Obsolete English noun meaning gladness, gaiety, or lighthearted delight in the manner of medieval texts
3. A rare, old-fashioned word denoting merriment, jollity, or a happy and festive spirit

Etymology: Before it meant cheerfulness, Old English "gleo" meant entertainment itself: music, song, minstrelsy, and the jesting that went with a feast. It named the performances that kept a hall lively. "Glewe" is a Middle English spelling of the same word, showing the form "glee" took before spelling settled. The meaning moved from the performance to the feeling it produced, so the joy came to carry the name while the minstrels faded from it.