gladder

G2L1A1D2D2E1R1
/ˈɡlædə(ɹ)/

A form of glad — Pleased; happy; gratified.

OriginMiddle English gladere ← Old English glædra →
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Meanings

gladder1

adjective
  1. comparativecomparative form of glad: more glad

    ARIEL: I believe you're glad she is. I believe you're glad she is. I believe you're gladder she is than he fucking is.

    2003, Martin McDonagh, “Act Three”, in The Pillowman, →ISBN, page 97

gladder2

verbgladder (third-person singular simple present gladders, present participle gladdering, simple past and past participle gladdered)

present singular third person gladders · participle present gladdering · participle past gladdered · past gladdered

  1. alternativenonstandardproscribedrareAlternative form of gladden.

    The light of snow has gladdered the heart [...]

    2006, Pūrana Siṅgha, Sāhitya Akādemī, The knock at midnight
    1 more example

    Under the auspicious influence of the Company's just and equitable administration, the face of this province is gladdered —the blossoms of Peace are blowing and the blessings of tranquility increasing daily …

    1909, Country Correspondence, Political Department, 1800-[1804]

Origin

gladder · adjective

  1. Old Englishglædra
  2. Middle Englishgladere
  3. Englishgladder

From Middle English gladere, from Old English glædra (adjective), glador (adverb), comparative of glæd (“glad, shining, bright”). More at glad.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

gladder · verb

  1. Old English*gladrian“to make glad”
  2. Middle English*gladderen
  3. Englishgladder

From gladder (“one who makes glad”), or perhaps from Middle English *gladderen, from Old English *gladrian (“to make glad”), equivalent to glad + -er (fequentative suffix).

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with gladder

ladderbladderaddermaddergadderradder
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

gladder. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gladder

MLA

“gladder.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gladder. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gladder,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gladder.

Source: gladder on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.