joy
noun
- feeling of happiness
verb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L332081 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /d͡ʒɔɪ/
intj
Etymology: The noun is from Middle English joye, borrowed from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (“joy”), from gaudēre (“to be glad, rejoice”). Doublet of jo and gaudy (“Oxford college reunion”). Displaced native Old English ġefēa. The interjection is from the noun. The verb is from Middle English joyen, joȝen, joien, from Old French jöir, from the Old French noun (see above).
- Expressing appreciation and happiness.
“'Joy! joy!' he cried, throwing his arms towards Heaven, 'on a grave be the site of our Temple; and now our happiness is for Eternity!'”
“Hanrahan closed his mouth, tried unsuccessfully to breathe through his nose, then opened his mouth again. "Oh, joy," he muttered. "This kid doesn't even go to the bathroom, I bet. Probably been taught not to. It isn't nice."”
name
Etymology: From the noun joy, first used by Puritans in the 17th century.
- A female given name from English.
“"I have no name: / I am but two days old." / What shall I call thee? / "I happy am, / Joy is my name." / Sweet joy befall thee!”
“She was named Muriel — after the rather peculiar name of John's mother. Her own mother would have it so; only wishing out of her full heart, happy one! that there should be a slight alteration made in the second name. Therefore the baby was called Muriel Joy — Muriel Joy Halifax.”
- A surname.
noun
Etymology: The noun is from Middle English joye, borrowed from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (“joy”), from gaudēre (“to be glad, rejoice”). Doublet of jo and gaudy (“Oxford college reunion”). Displaced native Old English ġefēa. The interjection is from the noun. The verb is from Middle English joyen, joȝen, joien, from Old French jöir, from the Old French noun (see above).
- A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.
“a child's joy on Christmas morning”
“It is his joy to walk in the rain.”
- Anything that causes such a feeling.
“the joys and demands of parenthood”
“For, ye are our glory and ioy.”
- Luck or success; a positive outcome.
“Grant had no joy with taking a nap, so he began to systematically feel if everything was working: fingers and toes, etc.”
“'Rob? It's Gary. Are you having any joy with this trip to Bali?' 'No joy at all, mate. I reckon Bali's out for the foreseeable future. […]”
- The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; merriment; festivity.
“Such ioy made Vna, when her knight she found;”
“The roofs with joy resound.”
verb
Etymology: The noun is from Middle English joye, borrowed from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (“joy”), from gaudēre (“to be glad, rejoice”). Doublet of jo and gaudy (“Oxford college reunion”). Displaced native Old English ġefēa. The interjection is from the noun. The verb is from Middle English joyen, joȝen, joien, from Old French jöir, from the Old French noun (see above).
- To feel joy, to rejoice.
“for oftymes or this oure lord shewed hym vnto good men and vnto good knyghtes in lykenes of an herte But I suppose from hens forth ye shalle see no more / and thenne they Ioyed moche / and dwelled ther alle that day / And vpon the morowe whan they had herde masse / they departed and commaunded the good man to god”
“I joy to see you wear around your neck the holy relic I bestowed on you;—but what Moorish charmlet is that you wear beside it?”
- To enjoy.
“I haue my wish, in that I ioy thy sight,”
“For from the time that Scudamour her bought, In perilous fight, she neuer ioyed day […].”
- To give joy to; to congratulate.
“Then round our Death-bed ev'ry Friend ſhou'd run, / And joy us of our Conqueſt, early won: […]”
“Evil like Us they shun, and covet Good; Abhor the Poison, and receive the Food. Like Us they love or hate: like Us they know, To joy the Friend, or grapple with the Foe.”
- To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate.
“Yet neither pleasure’s art can joy my spirits, Nor yet the other’s distance comfort me.”