FESTIVITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does festivity mean? 

• FESTIVITY (noun)
  The noun FESTIVITY has 1 sense:

1. any joyous diversion

  Familiarity information: FESTIVITY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FESTIVITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any joyous diversion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

celebration; festivity

Hypernyms ("festivity" is a kind of...):

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "festivity"):

agon (a festivity in ancient Greece at which competitors contended for prizes)

conviviality; jollification; merrymaking (a boisterous celebration; a merry festivity)

feria ((in Spanish speaking regions) a local festival or fair, usually in honor of some patron saint)

festival; fete (an organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place))

blowout; gala; gala affair; jamboree (a gay festivity)

Ludi Saeculares; secular games (the centennial rites and games of ancient Rome that marked the commencement of a new generation (100 years representing the longest life in a generation); observances may have begun as early as the 5th century BC and lasted well into the Christian era)

victory celebration (a celebration following a victory in a battle or sports competition)

Derivation:

festive (offering fun and gaiety)

 Context examples 

This means that your love life will take off just after this date, right in time for holiday festivities.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

On the day when I was articled, no festivity took place, beyond my having sandwiches and sherry into the office for the clerks, and going alone to the theatre at night.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The morning charities and ceremonies took so much time that the rest of the day was devoted to preparations for the evening festivities.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In spite of this little rub, however, Emma was smiling with enjoyment, delighted to see the respectable length of the set as it was forming, and to feel that she had so many hours of unusual festivity before her.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The walls were hung all round with most elaborate and brightly colored tapestry, representing the achievements of Sir Bevis of Hampton, and behind this convenient screen were stored the tables dormant and benches which would be needed for banquet or high festivity.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Miss Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the future.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Fanny had no share in the festivities of the season; but she enjoyed being avowedly useful as her aunt's companion when they called away the rest of the family; and, as Miss Lee had left Mansfield, she naturally became everything to Lady Bertram during the night of a ball or a party.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

If you want a real relationship, you can find one when this planet of unconditional love moves forward at month’s end, just in time for holiday festivities.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Everything was very good; we did not spare the wine; and he exerted himself so brilliantly to make the thing pass off well, that there was no pause in our festivity.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This month, on November 25, Venus will move to your eleventh house of friends, fun, and parties, just in time to be in sync with coming festivities.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)