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Amuse vs Merry - What's the difference?

amuse | merry |

As a verb amuse

is .

As a proper noun merry is

originally a nickname for a merry person.

amuse

English

Verb

  • To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing emotions.
  • I watch these movies because they amuse me.
    It always amuses me to hear the funny stories why people haven't got a ticket, but I never let them get in without paying.
  • * Gilpin
  • A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake.
  • To cause laughter, to be funny.
  • (archaic) To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
  • * Johnson
  • He amused his followers with idle promises.
  • (archaic) To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder.
  • * Holland
  • Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold.
  • * Fuller
  • Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house.

    Synonyms

    * entertain, gratify, please, divert, beguile

    Derived terms

    * amusement

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    merry

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Jolly and full of high spirits
  • We had a very merry Christmas.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
  • Festive and full of fun and laughter
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
  • f I have the chance, I will make our worshipful Sheriff pay right well for that which he hath done to me. Maybe I may bring him some time into Sherwood Forest and have him to a right merry feast with us.
    Everyone was merry at the party.
  • Brisk
  • The play moved along at a merry pace.
  • Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight.
  • a merry jest
  • * Spenser
  • merry wind and weather
  • (euphemistic) drunk; tipsy
  • Some of us got a little merry at the office Christmas party.

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete) mery

    Derived terms

    * Merry Christmas * Merry Eid

    Synonyms

    * happy * gay * content * joyful * cheerful * pleased * exultant * ecstatic * jovial

    Antonyms

    * miserable * unhappy

    Derived terms

    * merrier * merrily * merriment