Weekly Word is a weekly post intended to illustrate the meaning and use of a single word. The chosen word will begin with a different letter of the alphabet each week, as Louise (my daughter) and I work our way through the alphabet.

Louise posts on her website:

An Enchanted Place

This week’s word begins with the letter J

Meaning:

1.  Easy and sprightly in manner or bearing; happy and confident

2.  Smartly trim or stylishly chic in clothing:

3. Archaic: genteel

Pronunciation:

jawn-tee, jahn-tee

Audio Link:

jaunty

Part of Speech:

Adjective

Related Forms:

Jauntier (comparative adjective)

Jauntiest (superlative adjective)

Jauntily (adverb)

Jauntiness (noun)

Synonyms:

In the sense of sprightly:

carefree, high-spirited, devilish, dashing, jocund, perky, animated, jolly, jovial, cocky, sparky, bold, confident, buoyant, playful, impish

In the sense of smart in dress:

Smart, trim, dapper, stylish, spruce, showy, dashing, chic (a jaunty little hat):

Antonyms: 

depressing, cheerless, listless, depressed, lackadaisical, cheerless, sedate, lethargic, inactive

unfashionable, unstylish

Word Origin:

C17 (1655-65) earlier jentee or juntee from the French gentil (noble, gentle or genteel)

Use the Word in a Sentence: 

1.  Mary lifted young Jack onto her back and followed behind his twin brother, Joe, who scampered along jauntily on their way to the fair.

2.  As they reached the fair, Joe clapped his hands in excitement as the familiar jaunty music of the merry-go-round filled the afternoon air.

3.  The jauntiness in the steps of the three friends spoke of their enjoyment in each other’s company during their hike across the countryside.

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If you would like to join us in doing this weekly post, both Louise and I would be happy to see you. You can pick of your own word and illustrate its use in any way you choose(even a short story) or use your chosen word to follow a similar pattern to our posts.