gladden
/'glædn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To cause someone to become glad, happy, or pleased; to give joy or pleasure to.
- To make a situation or atmosphere more cheerful or joyful.
Verb (intransitive, less common):
- To become glad or happy.
Usage
- Transitive Verb (most common): The word "gladden" is used with a direct object—the person or thing that is made happy. It is a formal or literary synonym for "please" or "delight."
- Intransitive Verb: This usage is rare and often sounds archaic or poetic. It describes the subject's own emotional shift towards gladness.
Examples
Transitive Verb:
- The news of her safe return will gladden the hearts of her family.
- It gladdens me to see you so successful.
- The sight of spring flowers gladdened the old man's spirit.
Intransitive Verb (rare):
- My heart gladdens at the thought of your visit. (Poetic/archaic)
Advanced Usage
"To gladden the heart": A common collocation meaning to make someone very happy, often used in formal or emotional contexts.
- His generous donation gladdened the hearts of all the charity workers.
Used in passive constructions: Often used to describe a state of being pleased.
- We were gladdened by the show of support from the community.
Variants and Related Words
- Glad (adjective): Feeling pleasure or happiness.
- I am glad you could come.
- Gladly (adverb): With pleasure; willingly.
- I would gladly help you.
- Gladness (noun): The state or feeling of being glad.
- Her face was filled with gladness.
Synonyms
- Delight: To give great pleasure or satisfaction.
- Please: To cause satisfaction or pleasure.
- Cheer: To make or become happier or more cheerful.
- Heart-en: To make someone feel happier (similar, less common).
Antonyms
- Sadden: To cause to become sad.
- Depress: To make someone feel utterly dispirited or dejected.
- Displease: To cause annoyance or dissatisfaction.
Notes on Usage
- Register: "Gladden" is more formal and less frequent in everyday conversation than words like "please" or "make happy." It is often found in written English, literature, or formal speeches.
- Emotional Weight: It often conveys a deep, heartfelt, or sincere kind of happiness, not just mild pleasure.