1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Aug., 182. Whose voyces siluer sound To cheerefull songs can chaunge my cherelesse cryes. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., I. iii. 27. My chearefull day is turnd to chearelesse night.
1605. Shaks., Lear, V. iii. 290. All’s cheerlesse, darke, and deadly.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1758), 171. Eden itself, after such a Vision, would appear a cheerless Desart.
1842. Pusey, Crisis Eng. Ch., 78. It has been thought that our teaching … would be ‘gloomy and cheerless.’
