Rejoice
Pronunciation
- IPA: /rɪˈd͡ʒɔɪs/
- Rhymes: -ɔɪs
Alternative forms
Origin
From Old French resjoir, (Modern French réjouir)
Full definition of rejoice
Verb
- (intransitive) To be very happy, be delighted, exult; to feel joy. from 14th c.
- 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, Oxford University Press, 1973, § 6:Obscurity, indeed, is painful to the mind as well as to the eye ; but to bring light from obscurity, by whatever labour, must needs to be delightful and rejoicing.
- (obsolete, transitive) To have (someone) as a lover or spouse; to enjoy sexually. 15th-16th c.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VI:But hit is noysed that ye love Quene Gwenyvere, and that she hath ordeyned by enchauntemente that ye shall never love none other but hir, nother none other damesell ne lady shall rejoyce you ....
- (transitive) To make happy, exhilarate. from 15th c.
- ArbuthnotWere he Cain alive, it would rejoice his soul to see what mischief it had made.
- 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 790-1:But good news awaited them in the form of permission to travel about the area replenishing medical stocks in hospitals and clinics, and this task was delegated to Constance, as the newcomer, a fact which rejoiced her.
- (obsolete) To enjoy.