Someone who is jolly is lively or merry. The figure most associated with the adjective jolly may be Jolly Old Saint Nick, or Santa Claus, often depicted belly-laughing with a merry twinkle in his eye. Mirthful, on the other hand, evokes mischievousness rather than the hearty “ho, ho, ho” of jolly. Mirthful, while less common than jolly, may be used to describe one’s mood, smile, or laughter itself, all containing a hint of being entertained by some secret silliness.

Generosity refers to a readiness or liberality in giving, and sometimes to an overall spirit of kindness. Another way to name generous giving, when it involves gifts or money, is with the noun largess. Largess can also refer to the gifts themselves. At the root of largess is the word "large," so one way to think about it is that those who show largess are characterized by the largeness of their contributions, monetary or otherwise. Most commonly, you will see largess used in the public works sense, denoting a sense of superiority or higher rank on the part of the one or ones bestowing it.

We may be searching last minute for those trinkets to stuff a stocking with or to decorate our homes right now. A trinket is a small ornament or piece of jewelry, often of little value. When the trinket is showy or cheaply made, and typically round, it may be called a bauble. Bauble originally referred to the staff or scepter that a court jester carried, and later to something pleasing to a child, like a toy. Bauble can simply be used to refer to a small, spherical ornament that is hung from the branches of a Christmas tree. So gather your trinkets, doodads, gewgaws, trifles, and baubles, and start decorating!

To share is to have a share or part in something, divide it equally, or grant partial use of it. In the digital realm, share means to give specific users access to your online content. The verb partake also implies sharing (of an event, feeling, or experience—particularly a meal), but highlights the recipient and the taking (not giving) of something. Partake is a back formation from partaking, from the Middle English phrase “part taking,” meaning "taking part." If partaking of or in something sounds a little lofty, there's good reason! Partake is a very old word in English, first recorded in the middle of the 16th century.

Cold describes anything or anyone with a relatively low temperature. People can feel cold on a brisk and breezy day. Beverages can be cold, too, which is usually a good thing! Nippy does not work for people or beverages; this snappy adjective is usually used to describe chilly weather. This term entered English describing things that nip or bite, giving us the association of a sharp or biting cold. Like a nippy dog, a nippy wind may snap at your nose or fingers!

We’re going to have to pry information out of today’s word because it is reticent. Reticent means “disposed to be silent or not to speak freely.” This tight-lipped adjective is more specific than its synonym reserved, which is widely used of both speech and actions and implies a guardedness born of caution or a sense of formality. Reticent simply describes people who aren’t inclined to chatter. A word to the wise: reticent is used to mean “reluctant” with some regularity, but style guides urge against this broad interpretation in favor of the more precise application.

To be enchanted by something is to be delighted to a high degree, almost as if you’re under a (delightful) spell! This bewitching verb is a close synonym for delight, but enchant’s magical meanings infuse it with a little more charm. In fairy tales, witches might enchant princes and princesses, subjecting them to magical influence. Outside of fairy tales, the magic suggested by enchant might be more metaphorical than supernatural, but the term retains a touch of the mystical in all its uses. An audience that is enchanted by a performance is not simply delighted, but perhaps mesmerized, entranced, or spellbound by what’s before them.