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.