convivIal

[Lat. convivial is, from convivium=a banquet.] 1. Of things : Relating or pertaining to a feast, festive, social. Denham . "Which feasts, convivial meetings we did name." 2. Of persons: Jovial, merry. "Your social and convivial spirit ."-Dr. Newton . Crabb thus discriminates between convivial and social: "The prominent idea in convivial is that of sensual indulgence; the prominent idea in social is that of enjoyment from an intercourse with society. Convivial is a species of the social ; it is the social in matters of festivity. What is con vivial is social, but what is social is something more; the former is excelled by the latter as much as the body is excelled by the mind. We speak of convivial meetings, convivial enjoyments or the convivial board; but social intercourse, social pleasure, social amusements, and the like." ( Crabb : Eng. Synon.)