different between jollity vs pleasantry

English

Etymology

From Middle English jolyfte, from Old French joliveté (“gaity, cheerfulness; amorous passion; life of pleasure”), from jolif (see jolly).

Noun

jollity (countable and uncountable, plural jollities)

1. (uncountable) The state of being jolly; cheerfulness.
   • 1841, Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, ch. 18:

     The Jolly Sandboys was a small road-side inn of pretty ancient date, with a sign, representing three Sandboys increasing their jollity with as many jugs of ale and bags of gold.
2. (countable) Revelry or festivity; a merry or festive gathering.
   • 2006, Rupert Cornwell, "You'd think it was the Thirties all over again," Independent (UK), 4 Sept. (retrieved 21 Sept. 2009):

     Across the US, candidates traditionally attend rallies, barbecues and similar jollities in their states and districts.

3. (countable) Things, remarks, or characteristics which are enjoyable.
   • 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, ch. 11:

     Add to this picture a jolly, crackling, rollicking fire, going rejoicingly up a great wide chimney,—the outer door and every window being set wide open, and the calico window-curtain flopping and snapping in a good stiff breeze of damp raw air,—and you have an idea of the jollities of a Kentucky tavern.

Anagrams

• joltily

English

Etymology

From French plaisanterie. Surface etymology is pleasant +? -ry

Noun

pleasantry (countable and uncountable, plural pleasantries)

1. A casual, courteous remark.
2. A playful remark; a jest.
   • 2014, Daniel Taylor, England and Wayne Rooney see off Scotland in their own back yard (in The Guardian, 18 November 2014)[1]

     Charlie Mulgrew could easily have been shown two yellow cards by a stricter referee and amid all the usual Anglo-Scottish pleasantries, the two sets of fans put an awful lot of effort into trying to drown out one another’s national anthems.

3. (dated) Anything that promotes pleasure or merriment.

Usage notes

The word originally meant a joke or witticism. It is now generally used to mean only polite conversation in general (as in the phrase "exchange of pleasantries"), which is sometimes proscribed.

Translations

See also

• small talk