Cheer

//t͡ʃɪə̯// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood. uncountable

    "I have not that alacrity of spirit, / Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have."

  2. 2
    Cheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport. Canada, US, uncountable

    "Alex participated in cheer all four years of college."

  3. 3
    the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom wordnet
  4. 4
    That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness, especially food and entertainment prepared for a festive occasion. uncountable

    "a table loaded with good cheer"

  5. 5
    a cry or shout of approval wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    A cry expressing joy, approval or support, such as "hurrah". countable

    "Three cheers for the birthday boy!"

  2. 7
    A chant made in support of a team at a sports event. countable
  3. 8
    One's facial expression or countenance. countable, obsolete, uncountable

    "And soo on the morne they were alle accorded that they shold departe eueryche from other / And on the morne they departed with wepynge chere / and euery knyȝt took the way that hym lyked best"

  4. 9
    One's attitude, mood. archaic, countable, uncountable

    "And anon he talked with them, and sayde unto them: be of good chere, it is I, be not afrayed."

Verb
  1. 1
    To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up. transitive

    "We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea."

  2. 2
    show approval or good wishes by shouting wordnet
  3. 3
    To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort. transitive

    "The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd."

  4. 4
    spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts wordnet
  5. 5
    To encourage to do something. obsolete, transitive

    "Let’s cheere our ſouldiers to incounter him, […] And burne him in the fury of that flame, That none can quench but blood and Empery."

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    become cheerful wordnet
  2. 7
    To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts. ambitransitive

    "The crowd cheered in support of the athletes."

  3. 8
    cause (somebody) to feel happier or more cheerful wordnet
  4. 9
    To feel or express enthusiasm for (something). figuratively, transitive

    "The finance sector will cheer this decision."

  5. 10
    give encouragement to wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English chere, from Anglo-Norman chere, from Old French chiere (“head, face; appearance; reception, hospitality; meal, dinner, food”) (Modern French chère), from Late Latin cara (“head”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English chere, from Anglo-Norman chere, from Old French chiere (“head, face; appearance; reception, hospitality; meal, dinner, food”) (Modern French chère), from Late Latin cara (“head”).

Etymology 3

Clipping of cheerleading.

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