Jo"vi*al (?), a. [F., fr. L.
Jovialis pertaining to Jove. The planet Jupiter was thought to
make those born under it joyful or jovial. See Jove.]
1. Of or pertaining to the god, or the
planet, Jupiter. [Obs.]
Our jovial star reigned at his
birth.
Shak.
The fixed stars astrologically differenced by the
planets, and esteemed Martial or Jovial according to the
colors whereby they answer these planets.
Sir T.
Browne.
2. Sunny; serene. [Obs.] "The heavens
always joviall." Spenser.
3. Gay; merry; joyous; jolly; mirth-
inspiring; hilarious; characterized by mirth or jollity; as, a
jovial youth; a jovial company; a jovial
poem.
Be bright and jovial among your
guests.
Shak.
His odes are some of them panegyrical, others moral;
the rest are jovial or bacchanalian.
Dryden.
&fist; This word is a relic of the belief in planetary influence.
Other examples are saturnine, mercurial,
martial, lunatic, etc.
Syn. -- Merry; joyous; gay; festive; mirthful; gleeful;
jolly; hilarious.
