festivity

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English festivite, from Middle French festivité, from Latin festīvitas, equivalent to festive +‎ -ity.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛˈstɪvəti/, /fɛˈstɪvɪti/, (rare) /fɪ-/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

festivity (countable and uncountable, plural festivities)

1. (often pluralized) A festival or similar celebration.
   • 1811, The Literary Panorama, and National Register, volume 9, page 871:

     Other parts of the ceremony have their unpleasantnesses; for there is great difficulty in admittings and omittings of guests to the festivities.

   • 1982, Inside Sports, volume 4, page 86:

     […] cosmeticky women whose tight jeans and stiletto heels suggest a kind of festivity but whose faces seem stunned […]

   • 1988, Steve Holman, “Christian Conquers Columbus”, in Ironman, 47 (6): 28-34:

     The real reason for these subdued responses was the fact that the audience knew it would be a fight to the finish; they were saving their screams for the posedown festivities to come.

2. An experience or expression of celebratory feeling, merriment, gaiety.