an archaic or dialectal term meaning to make gay, lively, or cheerful; to brighten or enliven something.
Formed from the prefix 'be-' plus 'gay' (from Old French 'gai', meaning cheerful or bright). This verb represents an older sense of 'gay' referring to general happiness and liveliness rather than sexual orientation.
This word shows how English once used 'gay' simply to mean cheerful and lively—meanings that have shifted so dramatically that this verb is now almost completely forgotten, making it a linguistic time capsule.
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