Joy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dʒɔɪ/
• Rhymes: -ɔɪ

Origin

Middle English joye, from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of gaudium ("joy"), from gaudēre ("to be glad, rejoice"). Displaced native Middle English wunne (from Old English wynn), Middle Englishhight, hught ("joy, hope") (from Old English hyht), Middle English rot, root ("joy, delight") (from Old English rōt), Middle English murȝe murghe ("joy, mirth") (from Old English myrg ("joy, mirth")), Middle English gleo ("joy, glee") (from Old English glēow, glīw ("glee")), Middle English blisse ("joy, bliss") (from Old English blisse, blīþs).

Full definition of joy

Noun

1. A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.a child's joy on Christmas morning
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 10, It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
2. They will be a source of strength and joy in your life.
3. Anything that causes such a feeling.
   the joys and demands of parenthood
• Bible, 1 Thess. ii. 20Ye are our glory and joy.
• KeatsA thing of beauty is a joy forever.
4. (obsolete) The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; merriment; festivity.
• SpenserSuch joy made Una, when her knight she found.
• DrydenThe roofs with joy resound.

Antonyms

• (feeling of happiness) infelicity, joylessness, unhappiness

Derived terms

• bundle of joy
• cocky's joy
• enjoy
• joyance
• joyful
• joygasm
• joyless
• joyous
• joy ride
• joystick
• jump for joy
• killjoy
• no joy
• overjoy
• traveller's joy

Verb

1. (intransitive) To feel joy, to rejoice.
• 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XVII:And than they joyed much, and dwelled there all day; and uppon the morne, whan they had herde Masse, they departed and commended the good man to God.
• 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 18:I swore readily enough to this and he joyed with exceeding joy and embraced me round the neck while love for him possessed my whole heart.
2. (transitive, archaic) To enjoy.
• 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.i.2:For from the time that Scudamour her bought,
  In perilous fight, she neuer ioyed day ....
• MiltonWho might have lived and joyed immortal bliss.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To give joy to; to congratulate.
• DrydenJoy us of our conquest.
• PriorTo joy the friend, or grapple with the foe.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate.
• ShakespeareNeither pleasure's art can joy my spirits.