GLADDEN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does gladden mean? 

• GLADDEN (verb)
  The verb GLADDEN has 2 senses:

1. make glad or happy

2. become glad or happy

  Familiarity information: GLADDEN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GLADDEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they gladden    ... he / she / it gladdens   
Past simple: gladdened   
Past participle: gladdened   
-ing form: gladdening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make glad or happy

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

gladden; joy

Cause:

gladden (become glad or happy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "gladden"):

overjoy (cause to feel extremely joyful or happy)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Antonym:

sadden (make unhappy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become glad or happy

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "gladden" is one way to...):

joy; rejoice (feel happiness or joy)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

The good news will gladden her

Antonym:

sadden (come to feel sad)

 Context examples 

There were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the "Red" and "Blue" books, Whitaker's Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and—it somehow gladdened my heart to see it—the Law List.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Her first return was to resume her place in the modern and elegant apartments of the Lodge, and to gladden the eyes of its mistress.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Ruth's eyes roved to him frequently to see how he was getting on, and she was surprised and gladdened by the ease with which he got acquainted with her cousins.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But making an extra trip to the galley a little later, I was gladdened by the sight of Harrison staggering weakly from the rigging to the forecastle scuttle.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

As courier for the Canadian Government, bearing important despatches, he was anxious to secure the best dogs, and he was particularly gladdened by the possession of Buck.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Adieu! my dear sweet Fanny, this is a long letter from London: write me a pretty one in reply to gladden Henry's eyes, when he comes back, and send me an account of all the dashing young captains whom you disdain for his sake.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Gladdening words!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Her eye then lit on Van Helsing and on me too, and gladdened.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It saddens me and gladdens me, the gait with which we are leaving San Francisco behind and with which we are foaming down upon the tropics.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

One advantage resulted from it to Fanny: at the earnest request of Miss Crawford, Mrs. Grant had, with her usual good-humour, agreed to undertake the part for which Fanny had been wanted; and this was all that occurred to gladden her heart during the day; and even this, when imparted by Edmund, brought a pang with it, for it was Miss Crawford to whom she was obliged—it was Miss Crawford whose kind exertions were to excite her gratitude, and whose merit in making them was spoken of with a glow of admiration.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)