cheer / chi(ə)r/ • v. 1. [intr.] shout for joy or in praise or encouragement: she cheered from the sidelines. ∎  [tr.] praise or encourage with shouts: they cheered his emotional speech | the cyclists were cheered on by the crowds.2. [tr.] give comfort or support to: he seemed greatly cheered by my arrival. ∎  (cheer someone up or cheer up) make or become less miserable: [tr.] I asked her out to lunch to cheer her up [intr.] he cheered up at the sight of her. • n. 1. a shout of encouragement, praise, or joy. ∎  a brief phrase shouted in unison by a crowd, typically led by cheerleaders, in support of an athletic team.2. (also good cheer) cheerfulness, optimism, or confidence: inject a little cheer into this gloomy season. ∎  something that causes such feelings: the sunset provided some cheer for rush-hour motorists. ∎  food and drink provided for a festive occasion: they had partaken heartily of the Christmas cheer.PHRASES: of good cheer archaic cheerful; optimistic.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French chiere ‘face,’ from late Latin cara, from Greek kara ‘head.’ The original sense was ‘face,’ hence ‘expression, mood,’ later specifically ‘a good mood.’

cheer †face, visage; disposition, mood (arch. or dial. in What cheer?, be of good cheer, etc.); kindly reception XIII; fare, provisions XIV; (from the verb) shout of encouragement or welcome XVIII. ME. chere — AN. chere, OF. chiere face :- late L. cara face — Gr. kárā head.
Hence cheer vb. make cheerful XIV; encourage by word or deed XV. cheerful XIV.