exultant
UK[ɪɡˈzʌltənt]US[ɪɡˈzʌltənt]
adj
feeling or showing great happiness and triumph, especially because of a success.
Morpheme Breakdown
exult
ant
exult
rejoice
ant
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'exultant' originates from the latin verb 'exsultare', which is an intensive form of 'exsilire', meaning 'to leap up'. this literal sense of leaping for joy evolved into the figurative meaning of rejoicing triumphantly. the latin present participle suffix '-ant-' was added to form an adjective describing one who is in the act of such rejoicing. entering english in the 17th century, 'exultant' retained this core sense of expressing jubilant triumph, shedding the literal notion of leaping while preserving the intense emotional uplift.
Analysis
Structure: exult (rejoice) + ant (adjective suffix)
exult (from latin 'exsultare', meaning 'to leap up, rejoice'), ant (from latin '-ant-', present participle suffix, forming adjectives meaning 'doing, being')
Examples
the exultant crowd cheered as their team lifted the championship trophy.
she wore an exultant smile after receiving the news of her promotion.
his exultant laughter echoed through the hall upon solving the complex puzzle.