riant

adjective

ri·​ant ˈrī-ənt 

ˈrē-;

rē-ˈäⁿ

literary

: cheerful, mirthful

… the character of the grounds in which the Abbey stood; which were riant and secluded, umbrageous, and full of the sound of falling waters.

—John Stuart Mill

riantly

ˈrī-ənt-lē 

ˈrē-

adverb

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, present participle of rire to laugh, from Latin ridēre

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above