fes·tiv·i·ty

(fĕ-stĭv′ĭ-tē)

n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties

1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival.

2. The joy and merriment of a festival or celebration.

3. festivities The proceedings or events of a festival.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

festivity

(fɛsˈtɪvɪtɪ)

n, pl -ties

1. merriment characteristic of a festival, party, etc

2. any festival or other celebration

3. (plural) festive proceedings; celebrations

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fes•tiv•i•ty

(fɛˈstɪv ɪ ti)

n., pl. -ties.

1. a festive celebration or occasion.

2. festivities, festive events or activities.

3. festive character or quality.

[1350–1400; Middle English (< Old French) < Latin]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

festivity - any joyous diversion

celebration

agon - a festivity in ancient Greece at which competitors contended for prizes

diversion, recreation - an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation"

jollification, merrymaking, conviviality - a boisterous celebration; a merry festivity

feria - (in Spanish speaking regions) a local festival or fair, usually in honor of some patron saint

festival, fete - an organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place); "a drama festival"

gala, gala affair, jamboree, blowout - a gay festivity

Ludi Saeculares, secular games - the centennial rites and games of ancient Rome that marked the commencement of a new generation (100 years representing the longest life in a generation); observances may have begun as early as the 5th century BC and lasted well into the Christian era

victory celebration - a celebration following a victory in a battle or sports competition

festivity

noun

1. merrymaking, fun, pleasure, amusement, mirth, gaiety, merriment, revelry, conviviality, joviality, joyfulness, jollification, sport There was a general air of festivity and abandon.

2. (often plural) celebration, party, festival, entertainment, rave (Brit. slang), beano (Brit. slang), fun and games, rave-up (Brit. slang), jollification, festive event, carousal, festive proceedings, hooley or hoolie (chiefly Irish & N.Z.) The festivities included a firework display.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

festivity

noun

1. The act of showing joyful satisfaction in an event:

celebration, merrymaking, rejoicing, revel (often used in plural), revelry.

2. A large or important social gathering:

affair, celebration, fete, function, gala, occasion, party, soiree.

Informal: do.

Slang: bash.

3. Joyful, exuberant activity:

conviviality, festival, festiveness, fun, gaiety, jollity, merriment, merrymaking, revel (often used in plural), revelry.

Translations

إحْتِفال، إحْتِفالات

slavnost

festivitasmunterhed

Festlichkeit

festivité

hátíîahald

festa festivit...festività

festivitas

kutlama şenlik

庆祝活动

festivity

[fesˈtɪvɪtɪ] N

1. (= celebration) → fiesta f, festividad f; (= joy) → regocijo m

2. festivities → festejos mpl, fiestas fpl

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

festivity

[fɛsˈtɪvɪti] n → fête f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

festivity

(= gaiety) → Feststimmung f, → Feiertagsstimmung f; there was an air of festivity in the office → im Büro herrschte Feststimmung f

(= celebration) → Feier f; festivities pl (= festive proceedings) → Feierlichkeiten pl, → Festivitäten pl (hum)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

festivity

[fɛsˈtɪvɪtɪ] n

a. (festival) → festa

b. (celebrations) festivities npl → festeggiamenti mpl

festive

(ˈfestiv) adjective

happy and (as if) celebrating. a festive atmosphere.

feˈstivity (-ˈsti-) – plural feˈstivities – noun

a celebration. Come and join in the festivities.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"You must not look for any dancing or festivity or entertainment of guests, for our gala times are still in the air." Such were his words.

View in context

Unless some particular festivity was going forward, the inmates of Marheyo's house retired to their mats rather early in the evening; but not for the night, since, after slumbering lightly for a while, they rose again, relit their tapers, partook of the third and last meal of the day, at which poee-poee alone was eaten, and then, after inhaling a narcotic whiff from a pipe of tobacco, disposed themselves for the great business of night, sleep.

View in context

Much mirth and festivity passed among the soldiers during their march.

View in context

She assented, and we sought one of the many radiating centres of festivity in the neighbourhood.

View in context

Several days of festivity and merry-making followed, for such old friends did not often meet and there was much to be told and talked over between them, and many amusements to be enjoyed in this delightful country.

View in context

All the Yukon was his guest, Dawson the seat of the festivity. On that one last night no man's dust save his own was good.

View in context

The sidewalk was obstructed by an assortment of interested neighbours, who opened a lane from time to time for a hurrying messenger bearing from McGary's goods pertinent to festivity and diversion.

View in context

The officers of the British army, and the loyal gentry of the province, most of whom were collected within the beleaguered town, had been invited to a masked ball; for it was the policy of Sir William Howe to hide the distress and danger of the period, and the desperate aspect of the siege, under an ostentation of festivity. The spectacle of this evening, if the oldest members of the provincial court circle might be believed, was the most gay and gorgeous affair that had occurred in the annals of the government.

View in context

Fanny never failed to ask her to every sort of festivity in the Shaw mansion; but after a few trials, Polly firmly declined everything but informal visits when the family were alone.

But when they drew up before the lighted house, and she found herself in the midst of the pleasant stir of festivity, the coming and going of carriages, the glimpses of bright colors, forms, and faces, the bursts of music, and a general atmosphere of gayety, Polly felt that she was n't all right, and as she drove away for a dull evening in her lonely little room, she just cried as heartily as any child denied a stick of candy.

View in context

The whole town was filled with mirth and dance and festivity.

View in context

Police described participants of the annual religious festivity as very orderly.

Around 25,000 attend People's Via Crucis in Aglona