joy
A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.
Interjection
- 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!' - 1842, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Lily’s Quest”, in Twice-Told Tales, volume II,...
- Hanrahan closed his mouth, tried unsuccessfully to breathe through his nose, then opened his mouth again. "Oh, joy," he muttered. "This kid doesn't even go to the bathroom, I bet. Probably been taught not to. It isn't...
Synonyms: hurrah aah alright 'ave it aww yeah boo-ya booyah cowabunga get in hoo hoorah hooray hurray huzzah oh yeah OMG result w00t wacko wahoo whee woo wooh woohay
Origin
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).
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
- It is his joy to walk in the rain.
- […]purſued his vnneighbourly purpoſe in ſuch ſort: that hee being the ſtronger perſwader, and ſhe (belike) too credulous in beleeuing or elſe ouer-feeble in reſiſting, from priuate imparlance, they fell to action; and...
Synonyms: elation glee blitheness blithesomeness cheerfulness cheeriness contentness contentedness delight delightedness elatedness exuberance exuberantness felicity gaiety gayness gayfulness gladness gladsomeness gleefulness gleesomeness happiness high spirits hilarity
Antonyms: infelicity joylessness unhappiness unjoy blueness tristesse mirthless blues crestfallenness dejection depression despondency distress dolefulness downheartedness drearihead forlornness grief heartsore ill-being melancholia melancholy misery mishappiness
- Anything that causes such a feeling.
- the joys and demands of parenthood
- For, ye are our glory and ioy. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Thessalonians 2:20:
- A thing of beauty is a joy forever. - 1818, John Keats, “Book I”, in Endymion: A Poetic Romance, London: […] T[homas] Miller, […] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 1:
- 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. - 2012, Colin Owen, Colin's Shorts, volume 2, page 65:
- 'Rob? It's Gary. Are you having any joy with this trip to Bali?' 'No joy at all, mate. I reckon Bali's out for the foreseeable future. […] - 2012, Robert Stansbridge, Bia's Wedding, page 4:
- The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; merriment; festivity.
- Such ioy made Vna, when her knight she found; - 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 32:
- The roofs with joy resound. - 1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Forms
Derived
bundle of joy City of Joy cocky's joy comparison is the thief of joy daughter of joy enjoy enjoyment jollily jolliness jolly joyance joyancy joyant joy bell joy-bell joy buzzer joy division joydom joyflight joyful joyfully joyfulness joygasm joy girl
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 /...
- I joy to see you wear around your neck the holy relic I bestowed on you;—but what Moorish charmlet is that you wear beside it? - 1829, Walter Scott, chapter 8, in Anne of Geierstein, volume 3, Edinburgh: Cadell, page...
- 1885, Richard Francis Burton (translator), The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 18, “Tale of the Portress,” p. 178, I swore readily enough to this and he joyed with exceeding joy and embraced me round the...
- To enjoy.
- I haue my wish, in that I ioy thy sight, - 1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […],...
- For from the time that Scudamour her bought, In perilous fight, she neuer ioyed day […]. - 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page...
- Is this the Love, is this the recompence Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, exprest Immutable when thou wert lost, not I, Who might have liv’d and joyd immortal bliss, Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee: - 1667,...
- To give joy to; to congratulate.
- Then round our Death-bed ev'ry Friend ſhou'd run, / And joy us of our Conqueſt, early won: […] - 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […],...
- Evil like Us they shun, and covet Good; Abhor the Poison, and receive the Food. Like Us they love or hate: like Us they know, To joy the Friend, or grapple with the Foe. - 1709, Mat[thew] Prior, “(please specify the...
- To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate.
- Yet neither pleasure’s art can joy my spirits, Nor yet the other’s distance comfort me. - c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of...