English Online Dictionary. What means joy? What does joy mean?
English
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).
Pronunciation
- enPR: joi, IPA(key): /d͡ʒɔɪ/
- Rhymes: -ɔɪ
Noun
joy (countable and uncountable, plural joys)
- A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.
- Synonyms: elation, glee; see also Thesaurus:happiness
- Antonyms: infelicity, joylessness, unhappiness, unjoy; see also Thesaurus:sadness
- Anything that causes such a feeling.
- Luck or success; a positive outcome.
- (obsolete) The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; merriment; festivity.
Derived terms
Descendants
- Krio: jɔy
Translations
Interjection
joy
- (dated, often sarcastic) Expressing appreciation and happiness.
- Synonyms: hurrah; see also Thesaurus:yay
Verb
joy (third-person singular simple present joys, present participle joying, simple past and past participle joyed)
- (intransitive) To feel joy, to rejoice.
- 1885, Richard Francis Burton (translator), The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 18, “Tale of the Portress,” p. 178,[3]
- 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.
- (transitive, archaic) To enjoy.
- (transitive, obsolete) To give joy to; to congratulate.
- (transitive, obsolete) To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate.
Uzbek
Etymology
Borrowed from Persian جای (jây).
Noun
joy (plural joylar)
- place
Derived terms
- joylashmoq