A feeling of happiness, joy, or delight about something good that's happened or is happening.
From Old English 'glæd' meaning 'bright' or 'shining,' combined with the suffix '-ness.' The word originally described a bright or gleaming appearance before shifting to describe an inner emotional brightness.
Interestingly, 'glad' shares the same root as 'glade'—a bright clearing in a forest—showing how ancient English speakers connected light and happiness as literally the same concept!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.