joy´less|ly

joy «joy», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a glad feeling; glad behavior; strong feeling of pleasure; happiness: »

The little boy jumped for joy when he saw the circus. On with the dance! let joy be unconfined (Byron).

SYNONYM(S): gladness, delight, rapture, bliss. See syn. under pleasure (Cf. ↑pleasure)

2. something that causes gladness or happiness: »

On a hot day, a cool swim is a joy. A thing of beauty is a joy forever (Keats).

3. the expression of happiness; outward rejoicing: »

The joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off (Nehemiah 12:43).

4. a state of happiness, especially the bliss of heaven.

5. Archaic. glad praise or worship: »

Glory and joy and honour to our Lord (Tennyson).

–v.i.

to be joyful: »

those cruel potentates of the school, who joy in the smart of their subjects (Washington Irving).

SYNONYM(S): rejoice, delight.

–v.t.

1. Archaic. to gladden; delight: »

a sight that joys the heart.

2. Obsolete. to enjoy: »

I, Who might have lived, and joy'd immortal bliss (Milton).

╂[< Old French joie < Latin gaudia, neuter plural of gaudium joy < gaudēre rejoice]

–joy´less, adjective.

–joy´less|ly, adverb.

–joy´less|ness, noun.