joy

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Jump to: navigation, search
See also Joy

Contents

[edit] English

Wikipedia-logo.png
Wikipedia has an article on:

Wikipedia

Most common English words: months « grew « boys « #679: joy » green » mouth » generally

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology

Middle English joye from Old French joie from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of gaudium "joy" from gaudēre "to be glad, rejoice". Displaced native Middle English wunne "joy" (from Old English wynn "joy"), Middle English hight, hught "joy, hope" (from Old English hyht "joy, hope"), Middle English rot, root "joy, delight" (from Old English rōt "joy, delight"), Middle English murȝe, murghe "joy, mirth" (from Old English myrg "joy, mirth"), Middle English gleo "joy, glee" (from Old English glēow, glīw "glee"), Middle English blisse "joy, bliss" (from Old English bliss, blīþs "joy, bliss").

[edit] Noun

Singular
joy

Plural
countable and uncountable; plural joys

joy (countable and uncountable; plural joys)

  1. (uncountable) The feeling of happiness, extreme cheerfulness.
    They will be a source of strength and joy in your life.
  2. (countable) An activity etc which causes this feeling.
    The joys and demands of new parents.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to joy

Third person singular
joys

Simple past
joyed

Past participle
joyed

Present participle
joying

to joy (third-person singular simple present joys, present participle joying, simple past and past participle joyed)

  1. (intransitive) To feel joy, to rejoice.
    • 1885: I swore readily enough to this and he joyed with exceeding joy and embraced me round the neck while love for him possessed my whole heart. — Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 18