Added 30 September 2026
joy
/d͡ʒɔɪ/ noun
In Latin: gaudium, gaudimonium, laetitia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about joy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.
a child's joy on Christmas morning
-
Anything that causes such a feeling.
the joys and demands of parenthood
- Luck or success; a positive outcome.
interjection
verb
- To feel joy, to rejoice.
- To enjoy.
- To give joy to; to congratulate.
Origin
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).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)