- Joy
- Joy Joy (joi), n. [OE. joye, OF. joye, joie, goie, F. joie, L.
gaudia, pl. of gaudium joy, fr. gaudere to rejoice, to be
glad; cf. Gr. gai`ein to rejoice, gay^ros proud. Cf. {Gaud},
{Jewel}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or
expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions
caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a
rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire;
gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.
[1913 Webster]
Her heavenly form beheld, all wished her joy. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Glides the smooth current of domestic joy. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. --Heb. xii. 2. [1913 Webster]
Tears of true joy for his return. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
2. That which causes joy or happiness. [1913 Webster]
For ye are our glory and joy. --1 Thess. ii. 20. [1913 Webster]
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. --Keats. [1913 Webster]
3. The sign or exhibition of joy; gayety; mirth; merriment; festivity. [1913 Webster]
Such joy made Una, when her knight she found. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
The roofs with joy resound. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Note: Joy is used in composition, esp. with participles, to from many self-explaining compounds; as, joy-bells, joy-bringing, joy-inspiring, joy-resounding, etc.
Syn: Gladness; pleasure; delight; happiness; exultation; transport; felicity; ecstasy; rapture; bliss; gayety; mirth; merriment; festivity; hilarity. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
