A noun meaning cheerfulness, gladness, or bright, sunny generosity. It describes a joyful, warm disposition — the kind of delight that makes giving a pleasure rather than a burden. Paul names it as one of the gifts to be exercised gladly: he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
God loves a cheerful giver — but the cheerfulness Paul describes in Romans 12:8 is not just about financial generosity. Hilaroteis applies to the gift of mercy: showing compassion with a warm, bright disposition rather than grudging duty. This matters enormously because mercy-giving done without joy can shame the recipient. True mercy is the overflow of a grateful heart — I give because I have been given to infinitely. The English word 'hilarious' derives from this root: giving that is so joyful it approaches the hilariously generous. This is the spirit of God's own giving — he gives with inexhaustible delight.