Joy \Joy\, n. [OE. joye, OF. joye, joie, goie, F. joie, L.
gaudia, pl. of gaudium joy, fr. gaudere to rejoice, to be
glad; cf. Gr. ? to rejoice, ? proud. Cf. Gaud, Jewel.]
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.
Her heavenly form beheld, all wished her joy.
--Dryden.
Glides the smooth current of domestic joy.
--Johnson.
Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured
the cross, despising the shame. --Heb. xii. 2.
Tears of true joy for his return. --Shak.
Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration
of the present or assured approaching possession of
a good. --Locke.
2. That which causes joy or happiness.
For ye are our glory and joy. --1 Thess. ii.
20.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. --Keats.
3. The sign or exhibition of joy; gayety; mirth; merriment;
festivity.
Such joy made Una, when her knight she found.
--Spenser.
The roofs with joy resound. --Dryden.
Note: Joy is used in composition, esp. with participles, to
from many self-explaining compounds; as, joy-hells,
joy-ringing, joy-inspiring, joy-resounding, etc.
Syn: Gladness; pleasure; delight; happiness; exultation;
transport; felicity; ecstasy; rapture; bliss; gayety;
mirth; merriment; festivity; hilarity.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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