a. [a. F. jovial (Rabelais, a. 1553), ad. It. gioviale ‘borne vnder the planet Ioue’ (Florio, 1598), ad. L. joviāl-is of or pertaining to Jupiter, f. Jovi-s: see JOVE and -AL.]
† 1. Of or pertaining to Jove; Jove-like, majestic.
1604. Drayton, Owl, 220. When this princely jovial fowl [the eagle] they saw.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, III. xxvii. (1620), 137. Merula the Iouiall Flamine cut his owne veines and so bled himselfe out of their danger.
1611. Heywood, Gold. Age, III. Wks. 1874, III. 50. All that stand Sink in the weight of his high Iouiall hand.
2. Of or belonging to the planet Jupiter; also absol. as sb. An inhabitant of Jupiter.
1665. R. Hooke, Microgr., 240. The highest of Jupiter’s Moons is between twenty and thirty Jovial Semidiameters distant from the Center of Jupiter.
1690. Leybourn, Curs. Math., 450 b. He [Saturn] hath several Lunulæ, or lesser Planets, like the Jovial Satellites, moving about his Body.
a. 1734. North, Lives, Guildford (1826), II. 183. Applying Jovial observations to marine uses, for finding longitudes at sea.
1870. Proctor, Other Worlds, 122. There must be four moons visible above the horizon of the Jovials.
† 3. Her. Azure in color. Obs.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 173. In Iouiall blew mantles, as a man would say, in the colour of just Iupiter.
† 4. Alchemy. Of tin. Obs.
1694. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens., 337/1. This Jovial Bezoartick is one of the best Preparations that can be made of Tin.
† 5. Astrol. Under the influence of, or having the qualities imparted by, the planet Jupiter, which as a natal planet was regarded as the source of joy and happiness. Also absol. as sb. Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. xii. 51. Therewith the Heauens alwaies iouiall, Lookte on them louely.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. xi. 47. There are starres which haue their most colde and moyst spirites;… others hote and moyst, as the Iovialls.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. xiv. (1658), 417 (J.). The fixed Stars, are Astrologically differenced by the Planets, and are esteemed Martial or Jovial, according to the colours whereby they answer these Planets.
1656. Culpepper, Eng. Physic. Enlarged, s.v. Endive.… A fine cooling, clensing Jovial Plant.
1656. Stanley, Hist. Philos., V. (1701), 207/1. According to that Star … the Aspect of one is Saturnine, of another Jovial, &c. in their looks were read the nature of their Souls.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Isagoge, The Joviall, are the Hart, bull, elephant, lamb and sheep.
1863. Miss Sewell, Chr. Names, I. 363. The word jovial is an allusion to the supposed influence of the planet Jupiter.
6. Characterized by hearty mirth, humor, or good fellowship; merry, jolly; convivial.
1596. Drayton, Legends, iv. 223. As meerely Ioviall in my selfe was I.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. ii. 28. Be bright and Iouiall among your Guests to Night.
1631. R. Bolton, Comf. Affl. Consc. (1635), 293. The joviall, good-fellow-mirth of carnall men.
1685. Dryden, Misc., II. Pref. Some of them [odes of Horace] are … jovial (or, if I may so call them) Bacchanalian.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 265. I have often known the quinsey prove fatal to jovial companions.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., iv. 72. Men of the present age are … merry or jovial rather than joyous.
1898. H. Calderwood, Hume, iii. 28. A jovial spirit characterised even literary gatherings.
† Hence Jovialissime a. Obs. [after L. or It. superlatives in -issimus, -issimo], most jovial.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, Wks. (1834), 231. The exuberant diversitie of his jovialissime entertainment.
