† enjoyn.
Obsolete.
= enjoyment n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > [noun]
likingeOE
titillationc1450
enjoying1536
enjoyment1553
enjoy1589
taste1604
enjoyance1632
adlubescence1656
gratification1712
ooh-la-la1952
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 203 As true loue is content with his enioy.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
enjoyv.
/ᵻnˈdʒɔɪ/, /ɛnˈdʒɔɪ/, U.S. /ᵻnˈdʒɔɪ/, /ɛnˈdʒɔɪ/ 1. † b. to enjoy of: = sense 3a, or 4a [French jouir de] .
a. intransitive. To be in joy, or in a joyous state; to manifest joy, exult, rejoice.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > rejoicing or exultation > rejoice or exult [verb (intransitive)]
fainc888
blissc897
gladc950
hightOE
spilea1000
make mirthc1225
playc1225
gladdena1300
to make joyc1300
joisec1320
joya1325
rejoyc1350
enjoyc1380
to be joyeda1382
mirtha1400
gloryc1400
rejoicec1405
enjoysec1470
triumph1535
exult1593
to take joya1616
gratify1811
tripudiate1891
kvell1940
c1380 J. Wyclif Three Treat. in Wks. (1880) 243 Enyoie ȝe to him wiþ quakynge.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke i. 14 And manye schulen enioye in his natyuite.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (1878) (Harl.) 122 He enioyed and was glad in al his herte.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 250/3 He sechyng the kyngdome of heuen enioyeth as a vaynqueur.
?1553 tr. Pope Pius II Hist. Ladye Lucres & Eurialus sig. H.iii Yet he neuer enioied after, but in conclusion pitifulli wasted his painful life.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > be pleased with [verb (transitive)] > take pleasure in or enjoy
likeOE
joyc1330
love1340
fruishc1450
enjoy1462
to enjoy of?1521
to have the honour1525
relish1580
jouise1598
taste1605
palate1609
to get a kick out of1928
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > take joy or delight in [verb (transitive)]
delightc1230
to have joy of1297
joyc1330
enjoy1462
delect1510
to enjoy of?1521
lustc1540
revel1592
luxuriate1653
rollick1848
wallow1876
thrill1935
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] > have beneficial use of
nitteeOE
brookOE
joyc1330
takea1400
enjoyc1460
to enjoy of?1521
?1521 A. Barclay Bk. Codrus & Mynalcas sig. Avjv Lykewise mayest thou, enioye of our scyence.
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes f. 238/1 Of all that I haue had, possessed, attained, and whereof I haue enioyed, I haue onely two thinges, etc.
a. transitive. To put into a joyous condition; to make happy, give pleasure to. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > please or give pleasure to [verb (transitive)]
i-quemec893
ywortheOE
queemeOE
likeOE
likeOE
paya1200
gamec1225
lustc1230
apaya1250
savoura1300
feastc1300
comfort1303
glew1303
pleasec1350
ticklec1386
feedc1400
agreea1413
agreec1425
emplessc1450
gree1468
applease1470
complaire1477
enjoy1485
warm1526
to claw the ears1549
content1552
pleasure1556
oblect?1567
relish1567
gratify1569
sweeta1575
promerit1582
tinkle1582
tastea1586
aggrate1590
gratulatea1592
greeta1592
grace1595
arride1600
complease1604
honey1604
agrade1611
oblectate1611
oblige1652
placentiate1694
flatter1695
to shine up to1882
fancy-
1485–6 W. Caxton tr. Laurent Ryal Bk. sig. Cj For to gladde and enjoye the people.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 150 Whos taryeng enjoyed her moche.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. xxvii. sig. ii.iii v That it hym may enioye and recomforte in his spyryte.
1610 G. Markham Maister-peece ii. li. 107 No meat will enioy or do good vnto him.
b. reflexive. To experience pleasure, be happy; now chiefly, to find pleasure in an occasion of festivity or social intercourse, in a period of recreation, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > take pleasure or enjoy oneself [verb (reflexive)]
likeOE
joyc1260
litea1300
to please to oneselfa1382
relish1580
contentc1600
complease1604
pleasurea1640
enjoy1653
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheism in Coll. Philos. Writings (1712) ii. xi. 73 Creatures are made to enjoy themselves, as well as to serve us.
1710 Ld. Shaftesbury Soliloquy 151 When I employ my Affection in friendly and social Actions..I can..sincerely enjoy my self.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 422. ⁋2 The agreeable Man makes his Friends enjoy themselves.
1891 N.E.D. at Enjoy Mod. Did you enjoy yourself at the party? He is enjoying himself at the seaside. They have nothing to do but enjoy themselves.
3.
a. transitive. To possess, use, or experience with delight. Also with reference to the feeling only: To take delight in, relish. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > be pleased with [verb (transitive)] > take pleasure in or enjoy
likeOE
joyc1330
love1340
fruishc1450
enjoy1462
to enjoy of?1521
to have the honour1525
relish1580
jouise1598
taste1605
palate1609
to get a kick out of1928
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > take joy or delight in [verb (transitive)]
delightc1230
to have joy of1297
joyc1330
enjoy1462
delect1510
to enjoy of?1521
lustc1540
revel1592
luxuriate1653
rollick1848
wallow1876
thrill1935
1462 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 167 Jche off us all schuld jnjoy þe wylleffare off odyr.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 46 No one can long enyoy plesure.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. iii. 108 Such are the rich That haue aboundance, and enioy it not. View more context for this quotation
a1639 H. Wotton Earl of Essex & Duke of Buckingham: Parallel in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 168 Both well enough enjoying the present.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 829 Adam wedded to another Eve, Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct. View more context for this quotation
1713 J. Addison Cato (T.) I could enjoy the pangs of death And smile in agony.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxiii. 137 How he..injoys..the Relations of his own rakish Actions.
1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh II. ii. 10 William enjoyed the novelty very much.
1872 J. Ruskin Eagle's Nest §85 It is appointed for all men to enjoy, but for few to achieve.
b. with infinitive as object colloquial or vulgar.
ΚΠ
1864 Realm 22 June 3 She would greatly enjoy to dance at a ball once more.
4.
a.
(a) In weaker sense: To have the use or benefit of, have for one's lot (something which affords pleasure, or is of the nature of an advantage).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] > have beneficial use of
nitteeOE
brookOE
joyc1330
takea1400
enjoyc1460
to enjoy of?1521
c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1714) 144 We schal now enjoye our own Goods [in peace under Edward IV].
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxxiii. 28 Latteth him enioye the light of ye lyuinge.
1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin vi. 314 He had of so long continuaunce enioyed the name of iust and vpright.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. xiv. 67 Mony is thrown amongst many, to be enjoyed by them that catch it.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads i. 88 As long as I enjoy my life.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. i. iv. 17 It [sc. Allworthy's house] stood..high enough to enjoy a most charming Prospect. View more context for this quotation
1806 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. VI. 282 Anne..shall hold and enjoy the same as a place of inheritance.
1830 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I III. iv. 52 Wentworth had not enjoyed the royal favour.
1874 W. B. Carpenter Princ. Mental Physiol. (1879) i. vii. 324 Animals enjoying a much lower degree of intelligence.
(b) Sometimes used catachrestically with object denoting something not pleasurable or advantageous.Chiefly in expressions like ‘to enjoy poor health,’ ‘to enjoy an indifferent reputation’, where the noun has properly a favourable sense, qualified adversely by the adjective. (Cf. the similar use of jouir de, censured by French grammarians.) Uses like those in quots. 1577, 1596, to which this explanation does not apply, could not now occur.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
abeareOE
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
bidec1200
suffera1250
abidec1275
drinka1340
endure1340
underfong1382
receivec1384
abyea1393
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
get?c1430
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
a dog's lifea1528
tolerate1531
to stand to ——1540
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
to stand under ——a1616
to fall a victim to1764
the mind > emotion > suffering > suffer mental pain [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
takec1175
bidec1200
suffera1250
leadc1330
drinka1340
endure1340
wielda1375
underfong1382
receivec1384
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
tolerate1531
to go through ——1535
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Evagrius Scholasticus iii, xli, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 469 What shall I speake of Pertinax, and what of Iulian enioyed not both they one kinde of death?
1596 A. Munday tr. 1st Pt. Palmerin of Eng. liv His Father, Mother and all his Freendes..were not a little sorrowfull to enioy his absence.
1834 H. Venn Life & Lett. (1835) 407 At best she enjoys poor health.
1871 J. R. Macduff Memories of Patmos ii. 148 The reigns of Alexander Severus and Caracalla..enjoyed an unhappy distinction for their grinding taxation.
b. To have one's will of (a woman).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with > specifically of a man
jape1382
overliec1400
swivec1405
foilc1440
overlay?a1475
bed1548
possess1592
knock1598
to get one's leg over1599
enjoy1602
poke1602
thrum1611
topa1616
riga1625
swingea1640
jerk1650
night-work1654
wimble1656
roger1699
ruta1706
tail1778
to touch up1785
to get into ——c1890
root1922
to knock up1934
lay1934
pump1937
prong1942
nail1948
to slip (someone) a length1949
to knock off1953
thread1958
stuff1960
tup1970
nut1971
pussy1973
service1973
1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor ii. ii. 246 You will, enioy Fords wife.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1032 Never did thy Beautie..so enflame my sense With ardor to enjoy thee. View more context for this quotation
1950 A. Clarke Coll. Plays (1963) 284 Brother. Her present marriage has been consummated. Abbot. But lacking true consent, is null and void. Brother. Although her husband frequently enjoyed her?
Draft additions March 2003
[In later use, probably after dialectal Yiddish genist.] In imperative, with ellipsis of object: take pleasure in the thing (frequently food or drink) being presented.
ΚΠ
1876 H. James Roderick Hudson ix. 304 Don't mind the pain, and it will cease to trouble you. Enjoy, enjoy; it is your duty.
1959 H. Golden For 2¢ Plain ii. 92 When my mother served our meals..she would always say, ‘Enjoy, enjoy’... The word ‘enjoy’ was seldom used by itself. It was always repeated.
1964 Prevention July in L. M. Feinsilver Taste of Yiddish (1970) 306 Just read, enjoy, absorb!
1985 L. Sanders Fourth Deadly Sin v. 41 ‘Spend money’, he said. ‘Enjoy.’
1998 30 All Time Great Recipes (BBC Good Food) Autumn 1/1 We hope that in this selection, you will rediscover some old friends—and make some new ones as well. Enjoy!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1589
v.c1380