Word of the Day for Thursday September 29, 2005 jocund \JOCK-uhnd; JOH-kuhnd\, adjective: Full of or expressing high-spirited merriment; light-hearted; mirthful. His careless manners and jocund repartees might well seem incompatible with anything serious. --William Prescott, [1]History of the Conquest of Mexico There was once a widow, fair, young, free, rich, and withal very pleasant and jocund, that fell in love with a certain round and well-set servant of a college. --Miguel de Cervantes, [2]Don Quixote (translated by Thomas Shelton) Many a glad good morrow and jocund laugh from the young folk Made the bright air brighter. --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Evangeline" _________________________________________________________ Jocund is from Old French jocond, from Latin jucundus, "pleasant, agreeable, delightful," from juvare, "to please, to delight." References 1. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375758038/ref=nosim/lexico 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0766181804/ref=nosim/lexico Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=jocund