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Gleeful vs Rejoice - What's the difference?

gleeful | rejoice |

As an adjective gleeful

is exuberantly or triumphantly joyful.

As a verb rejoice is

to be very happy, be delighted, exult; to feel joy.

gleeful

English

Alternative forms

* gleefull (archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Exuberantly or triumphantly joyful.
  • Synonyms

    * elated * exhilarated * high-spirited * overjoyed

    rejoice

    English

    Alternative forms

    * rejoyce

    Verb

    (rejoic)
  • To be very happy, be delighted, exult; to feel joy.
  • *1748 , (David Hume), Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral , Oxford University Press, 1973, ยง6:
  • *:Obscurity, indeed, is painful to the mind as well as to the eye ; but to bring light from obscurity, by whatever labour, must needs to be delightful and rejoicing .
  • (obsolete) To have (someone) as a lover or spouse; to enjoy sexually.
  • *:
  • *:ye that are a knyghte wyueles that ye wyl not loue some mayden or gentylwoman // but hit is noysed that ye loue quene Gueneuer / and that she hath ordeyned by enchauntement that ye shal neuer loue none other / but her / ne none other damoysel ne lady shall reioyse you
  • To make happy, exhilarate.
  • *(John Arbuthnot) (1667-1735)
  • *:Were he [Cain] alive, it would rejoice his soul to see what mischief it had made.
  • *1982 , (Lawrence Durrell), Constance'', Faber & Faber, 2004 (''Avignon Quintet ), p.790-1:
  • *:But good news awaited them in the form of permission to travel about the area replenishing medical stocks in hospitals and clinics, and this task was delegated to Constance, as the newcomer, a fact which rejoiced her.
  • (obsolete) To enjoy.
  • :(Bishop Peacock)