English

Adjective

gladder

1. comparative form of glad: more glad

Etymology 2

From gladder ‎(“one who makes glad”), or perhaps from Middle English *gladderen, from Old English *gladrian ‎(“to make glad”), equivalent to glad +‎ -er ‎(“fequentative suffix”).

Verb

gladder ‎(third-person singular simple present gladders, present participle gladdering, simple past and past participle gladdered)

1. (transitive) To make glad; rejoice.
   • 1870, Edward Royall Tyler, William Lathrop Kingsley, George Park Fisher, New Englander and Yale review:

     [...] and, the crown and seal of nil, the reciprocated love of God in Christ — devotion to Him in service, trust, and love, with the fullness of His favor streaming back into all the currents of experience, gladdering and perfecting all.

   • 1909, Country Correspondence, Political Department, 1800-[1804]:

     Under the auspicious influence of the Company's just and equitable administration, the face of this province is gladdered [Sic-]—the blossoms of Peace are blowing and the blessings of tranquility increasing daily [...]

   • 2006, Pūrana Siṅgha, Sāhitya Akādemī, The knock at midnight:

     The light of snow has gladdered the heart [...]

Middle English

Etymology

From Old English *gladere ‎(“gladder”), from gladian ‎(“to make glad”).

Noun

gladder (plural gladders)

1. One who makes glad or gives joy.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)