See Also: blithe(dictionary)
blithe(dictionary)

newel (iou) and blithe (iou)


newel (iou)



newel noun. LME.
[Old French nouel, noel knob, from medieval Latin nodellus dim. of nodus knot: see -EL2. Cf. NOWEL noun2.]
The supporting central pillar of a spiral or winding staircase. Formerly also, any of the stones forming such a pillar. Also solid newel. LME.
b. hollow newel, open newel, a central open space or well in a spiral etc. staircase. E17.
A post at the head or foot of a staircase supporting a handrail. L17.
newelled adjective having a newel (of a specified kind) L17.

blithe (iou)



blithe adjective & adverb.
[Old English bliTe = Old Frisian bli(d-), Old Saxon bliTi (Dutch blijde, blij), Old High German blidi cheerful, friendly, Old Norse blier, Gothic bleiTs: from Germanic. Cf. BLISS noun.]
A. adjective.
Kindly, clement, gentle. Long obsolete exc. Scot. dial. OE.
Joyous, merry; glad, happy, well pleased. Now chiefly poet. OE.
Milton A daughter fair, So buxom, blithe, and debonair. Sir W. Scott A blithe salute The minstrels well might sound.
Heedless, careless. E20.
A. McCowen Their complacency, and their blithe intolerance of most of the outside world.
b. adverb. In a blithe manner. Now chiefly poet. OE.
blitheful adjective (a) kindly, friendly; (b) joyous, merry: OE.
blithefully adverb M19.
blithely adverb in a blithe manner; heedlessly, carelessly: OE.
blitheness noun OE.
blithesome adjective cheerful E18.
blithesomely adverb M19.