Plural of gayety; joyful or festive occasions, merriment, or lighthearted enjoyment.
From Old French gaieté, derived from gai meaning 'happy' or 'merry.' The plural gayeties became common in English literature to describe multiple instances of celebration or merriment.
This is the older spelling and plural of 'gaiety'—you'd find 'gayeties' in literature from the 1700s and 1800s, capturing those Austen-era social events and celebrations. The spelling shifted over time as English standardized.
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