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 ]

☞ 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 ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Joyed p. pr. & vb. n. Joying. ] [ OF. joir, F. jouir. See Joy, n. ] To rejoice; to be glad; to delight; to exult. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. iii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

In whose sight all things joy. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To give joy to; to congratulate. [ Obs. ] “Joy us of our conquest.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

To joy the friend, or grapple with the foe. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To enjoy. [ Obs. ] See Enjoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who might have lived and joyed immortal bliss. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. joiance. ] Enjoyment; gayety; festivity; joyfulness. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some days of joyance are decreed to all. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

From what hid fountains doth thy joyance flow? Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Joyance. [ R. ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of joy; having or causing joy; very glad; as, a joyful heart. “Joyful tidings.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

My soul shall be joyful in my God. Is. lxi. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sad for their loss, but joyful of our life. Pope.

-- Joy"ful*ly, adv. -- Joy"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the emotion of great happiness.
Syn. -- joy, joyousness. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Not having joy; not causing joy; unenjoyable. -- Joy"less*ly, adv. -- Joy"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

With downcast eyes the joyless victor sat. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Youth and health and war are joyless to him. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] pining for the lass,
Is joyless of the grove, and spurns the growing grass. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. joyous, joious, joios, F. joyeux.See Joy. ] Glad; gay; merry; joyful; also, affording or inspiring joy; with of before the word or words expressing the cause of joy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Is this your joyous city? Is. xxiii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

They all as glad as birds of joyous prime. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

And joyous of our conquest early won. Dryden.

Syn. -- Merry; lively; blithe; gleeful; gay; glad; mirthful; sportive; festive; joyful; happy; blissful; charming; delightful.

-- Joy"ous*ly, adv. -- Joy"ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing joyfulness. [ R. ]
Syn. -- gladsome, delightful. [ 1913 Webster ]

This all joysome grove. T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]