buoyantadj.
/ˈbɔɪənt//ˈbwɔɪənt/ 1.
a. Having the power of floating, tending to float; floating.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > action or process of floating > [adjective] > capable of floating
buoyant1578
floatable1846
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > [adjective] > rising due to lightness > buoyant
buoyant1578
unimmergible1806
air-chambered1856
unsinkable1883
corky1887
unsubmersible1891
1578 W. Bourne Treasure for Traueilers iv. x. 21 The syde [of a ship] being rounde and full, it is the more boyenter a great deale.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. ix. ii. 442 The Air-Bladder [of a fish] makes the Body more or less buoyant.
1766 J. Wilkinson in Philos. Trans. 1765 (Royal Soc.) 55 98 The buoyant power of cork in fresh water.
1792 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 210 Produced from seed buoyant in the atmosphere.
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 40/2 Filled with air, which renders the whole animal so buoyant that it floats on the surface.
b. Lightly elastic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > bodily movement > [adjective] > qualities of bodily movement > elastic
supple1599
springing1655
springy1749
buoyant1835
fawn-like1838
elastic1848
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 70/1 The quick and buoyant motions of the lively child.
c. figurative. Tending to rise or keep up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > of things, qualities, etc.
pithya1400
vive1477
lustful1561
vigorous1637
vivid1650
high-strung1653
buoyantc1661
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [adjective] > feeling or state of market
sensitive1813
bearish1827
light1827
quiet1833
easy1836
soft1849
weak1856
steady1857
buoyant1868
sick1870
swimming1870
featureless1879
bullish1882
firm1887
gravelly1887
technical1889
pippy1892
manipulated1903
thin1931
volatile1931
trendless1939
nervous1955
toppy1961
over-bullish1970
toppish1983
c1661 Argyle's Last Will in Harl. Misc. (1746) VIII. 30/2 His Vices were most notorious and boyant.
1808 S. Smith Wks. (1869) 112 Religion is so noble and powerful a consideration—it is so buoyant and so unsubmergible.
1868 J. E. T. Rogers Man. Polit. Econ. (ed. 3) xxi. 282 That part of the public revenue is most buoyant.
2. Of liquid: Having the power of keeping bodies afloat on its surface.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > action or process of floating > [adjective] > of liquid: capable of keeping afloat
buoyant1692
1692 J. Dryden Eleonora Ded. sig. †2v The Water under me was buoyant.
1813 Ld. Byron Bride Abydos ii. iii. 30 These limbs that buoyant wave hath borne.
1873 J. Morley Rousseau I. 324 The buoyant waters of emotion and sentiment.
3. figurative. Of the spirits: Easily recovering from depression, elastic, light. Of persons: Light-hearted, cheerful, hopeful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > [adjective] > cheerfully optimistic
sanguine1509
elastical1660
buoyanta1748
elastic1786
resilient1830
sunshine-showery1830
happy-go-lucky1835
toujours gai1899
bouncy1921
upbeat1947
blue skies2005
a1748 J. Thomson Wks. (1766) I. 130 Nerves..full of buoyant spirit.
1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) I. 211/1 A man of buoyant and animated valour.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 338 My spirits were most buoyant after a temporary prostration.
1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. ii. 232 His buoyant spirits were continually breaking out in troublesome frolics.
1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. i. 105 The buoyant confidence of youth.
Compounds
buoyant-minded adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > [adjective] > light-hearted
lightOE
recklessc1400
lightsomea1425
light-hearted1440
free-hearted1549
unsolicitous1668
jaunty1672
carefree1795
light-heart1802
sans-souciant1826
buoyant-minded1833
cheero1915
viscerotonic1937
funsy1958
1833 H. Martineau Charmed Sea iii. 27 One or two of the..more buoyant-minded of the party.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1578