Glad"ness (?), n. [AS. glaednes.]
State or quality of being glad; pleasure; joyful satisfaction; cheerfulness.
They . . . did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
Acts ii. 46.
⇒ Gladness is rarely or never equivalent to mirth, merriment, gayety, and triumph, and it usually expresses less than delight. It sometimes expresses great joy.
The Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day.
Esther viii. 17.
© Webster 1913.