JOY


Meaning of JOY in English

I. ˈjȯi noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English joye, joy, from Old French joie, joye, from Latin gaudia, plural of gaudium joy, from gaudēre to rejoice; akin to Greek gēthein to rejoice, gauros proud, Middle Irish guāire noble, Tocharian B kāw- to desire, Lithuanian džiaugiuos I rejoice

1.

a. : the emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good : pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one loves or desires : gladness , delight

b. : an experience of such emotion : enjoyment

the joy of books — Van Wyck Brooks

c. : the sign or exhibition of joy : gaiety , jubilation , merriment

after the victory there was great joy in the town

d. — used interjectionally as an exclamation of delight especially in the phrase oh joy

2. : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3.

a. : a source or cause of joy

motherhood is a joy rather than a job — Kathleen H. Seib

found many joys in … rustic life — Ella E. Clark

this book … is a joy and an instruction — J.A.Michener

a joy to look at

b. : a small endearing or loved child

4. of a planet : astrological position in a house of agreeable quality or condition : an accidental dignity

Synonyms: see pleasure

II. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English joyen, from Old French joir, jouir, from Latin gaudēre to rejoice

intransitive verb

: to experience or show pleasure or great delight : rejoice , exult

a happily married couple joying in a common ambition — Louise Mace

could joy in the purity of tone — W.M.Clark

transitive verb

1. obsolete : to make joyful or happy : delight , gladden

2. archaic : enjoy

3. obsolete

a. : to greet with joy or welcome with honor

b. : congratulate

4. obsolete : to rejoice at

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.