/joy/ , n.
1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.
2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.
3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.
4. a state of happiness or felicity.
v.i.
5. to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.
v.t.
6. Obs. to gladden.
[ 1175-1225; ME joy ( e ) joie, joye gaudia, neut. pl. (taken as fem. sing.) of L gaudium joy, equiv. to gaud- (base of gaudere to be glad) + -ium -IUM ]
Syn. 1. rapture. 4. bliss. See pleasure .
Ant. 1. misery, unhappiness, sorrow, grief.