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In his poem “After the Winter,” Jamaican-born poet and novelist Claude McKay writes of a “summer isle / Where bamboos spire to shafted grove / And wide-mouthed orchids smile,” declaring that “… we will build a cottage there / Beside an open glade …” It’s a serene, joyous vision offered to the speaker’s beloved, and it may shine a bit of light on the etymological connection between glade and the adjective glad, besides. Glade, which has been part of the English language since the early 1500s, was originally used not just to indicate a clearing in the woods but often specifically to refer to one filled with sunlight (note that McKay specifies that his glade is “open,” as glades can be in full or partial shade). It’s this sunniness that has led some etymologists over the years to suggest a connection with glad, which in Middle English also meant “shining.” To further the intrigue, a now-obsolete sense of glade once referred to a clear or bright space in the sky, or to a flash of light or lightning.
Examples of glade in a Sentence
Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Breckenridge's Peak 6: 143 acres of hike-to terrain above the lift offers cliffs, tight glades and wide-open bowls.
—John Frank, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
This combination was perfect for California’s June Mountain side-country, where testers pushed the boot’s limits through tight trees, open glades, and steep, consequential descents.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Likewise, the double-black diamond glades and chutes off of Highland’s High Temerity lift (definition: recklessly bold) is an Alpine adrenaline-seeker’s dream… although should only be undertaken by those sure in their skiing abilities.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near glade
Cite this Entry
“Glade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glade. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
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glade
noun
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