Joy
/d͡ʒɔɪ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.
nounAnything that causes such a feeling.
Sentence Examples
I'm beside myself with joy.
Her eyes were shining with joy.
Her books have brought joy to millions.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She felt pure ____ when she finally held her newborn baby in her arms.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The birth of their first child brought them great ____ and a sense of complete happiness and wonder.
Word Origin & History
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).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…]purſued his vnneighbourly purpoſe in ſuch ſort: that hee being the ſtronger perſwader, and ſhe (belike) too credulous in beleeuing or elſe ouer-feeble in reſiſting, from priuate imparlance, they fell to action; and continued their cloſe fight a long while together, vnſeene and vvithout ſuſpition, no doubt to their equall ioy and contentment."
— 1620, Giovanni Bocaccio, translated by John Florio, The Decameron, Containing an Hundred Pleaſant Nouels: Wittily Diſcourſed, Betweene Seuen Honourable Ladies, and Three Noble Gentlemen, Isaac Iaggard, Nouell 8, The Eighth Day:
"It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers."
— 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"For, ye are our glory and ioy."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Thessalonians 2:20:
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."
— 1818, John Keats, “Book I”, in Endymion: A Poetic Romance, London: […] T[homas] Miller, […] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 1:
"Grant had no joy with taking a nap, so he began to systematically feel if everything was working: fingers and toes, etc."
— 2012, Colin Owen, Colin's Shorts, volume 2, page 65:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She felt pure ____ when she finally held her newborn baby in her arms.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The birth of their first child brought them great ____ and a sense of complete happiness and wonder.