gaieté de cœur

English

Etymology

From French gaieté de cœur.

Noun

gaieté de cœur (uncountable)

1. Lightheartedness; playfulness.
   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

     Meanwhile, he […] attended me in all my excursions, and particularly in an expedition to Antwerp, with two other gentlemen, where in downright gaietè de cœur, we sat for our pictures, which were drawn in one piece […] .

   • 1886, Charlotte Mary Yonge, Chantry House:

     Emily […] in youthful gaieté de cœur had got a little tired of her.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɛ.te d(ə) kœʁ/, /ɡe.te d(ə) kœʁ/

Noun

gaieté de cœur f (uncountable)

1. lightheartedness, cheerfulness, high spirits

Derived terms

• de gaieté de cœur