Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Gladness

Gladness , noun

[Anglo-Saxon gladnes.]

State or quality of being glad; pleasure; joyful satisfaction; cheerfulness.
They... did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. — Acts ii. 46
The Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. — Esther viii. 17

Gladness is rarely or never equivalent to mirth, merriment, gayety, and triumph, and it usually expresses less than delight. It sometimes expresses great joy.