joy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   something or someone that provides a source of happiness

   a joy to behold

2. 2
   noun

   A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.

   a child's joy on Christmas morning

3. 3
   noun

   Anything that causes such a feeling.

   the joys and demands of parenthood

4. 4
   noun

   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.

5. 5
   noun

   The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; merriment; festivity.

   Such ioy made Vna, when her knight she found;

6. 6
   intj

   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!'

7. 7
   verb

   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

8. 8
   verb

   To enjoy.

   I haue my wish, in that I ioy thy sight,

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).