Lustic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Full of merriment and high spirits ; marked by hearty enjoyment and boisterous good humor
2. Characterized by lively exuberance and cheerful mirth ; displaying unrestrained joviality and festive joy
3. Exhibiting a sense of playful exuberance and happiness ; showing rollicking amusement and carefree liveliness

Etymology: "Lustic" is formed from the noun "lust" with the adjective-forming suffix "-ic," so the word is built from parts that each carry a sense of their own. In older English, "lust" meant pleasure, desire or vigour in a general, not necessarily sexual, sense, and that gave "lustic" its core idea of being full of zest and enjoyment. The suffix "-ic," borrowed through Latin and Greek, simply marks the result as "having the quality of" the base noun. The sense of hearty, boisterous good spirits is the one that survives, while the broader notion of appetite or desire has largely faded from this adjective. The word is rare in modern use, valued mainly by writers who want a lively, old-fashioned tone.

Synonyms: lusty, vigorous, robust, hearty, energetic

Antonyms: weak, feeble, frail