rejoicen.
/rᵻˈdʒɔɪs/, U.S. /rəˈdʒɔɪs/, /riˈdʒɔɪs/ Now rare.
Joy, rejoicing; an act of or occasion for rejoicing; †a cause of joy (obsolete).Common in the 16th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > rejoicing or exultation > [noun]
mirthOE
gladdingc1000
man-dreamOE
gleea1200
joyingc1300
rejoyingc1350
gloryingc1384
joya1400
mirthinga1400
rejoicingc1400
exultationc1425
rejoice1445
joyousitiea1450
solation1483
festivitya1500
rejoicement1523
jubilee1526
joyance1590
insolence1595
exiliency1618
exilience1626
exultancy1632
ovation1649
exultance1650
exulting1744
jubilance1864
jubilancy1894
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > quality of causing joy or delight > [noun] > an instance or source of joy or delight
playeOE
mirthOE
blissa1000
winOE
sunbeamc1175
delight?c1225
joyc1275
delightingc1350
joying1388
delicec1390
delectation?a1425
rejoice1445
delectabilitiesa1500
deliciositiesa1500
delectables1547
delicacy1586
venery1607
deliciousness1651
thrilling1747
peaches and cream1920
1445 tr. Claudian's De Consulatu Stilichonis in Anglia (1905) 28 267 (MED) Al that right is thou grauntyst soon, and oonly thou denyest Whos naytyng is cause of grete reioyse whan truthe is wele discussyd.
a1509 (?1468) Acct. Marriage Margaret of York in Archaeologia (1846) 31 329 He rejoisid, and in his rejoyse in suche case, me thought, as Troylus was ine.
?c1535 L. Cox Arte Rhethorycke (new ed.) sig. Biiiv I haue..thought it a synguler reioyse to me if I myght ones se you gadred to gyther.
1582 T. Bentley et al. Monument of Matrones Ep. Ded. To your euerlasting comfort, and the rejoice of christian harts.
c1620 Hist. & Life James VI (1825) 397 With the great rejoise of his people, and contentment of his awin mind.
a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) ii. 55 The Angels must not want their charitable Rejoyces for the conversion of lost Sinners.
1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xlviii. 482 The Adversaries of true Religion..could win no great Rejoice at these mens Oversights.
1827 Olive Branch (N. Y. Universalist Soc.) 22 Dec. 243/2 The rejoice with mirth and gladness, and gifts, on the solemn festival.
1961 A. Ansen Disorderly Houses 74 Piece comfort From our rejoices.
2005 Wall St. Jrnl. 9 Sept. (Central ed.) a13/1 The slaves in New Orleans would always accompany the dead to the burial site with rejoicing, because the rejoice was a release into a different kind of spiritual world.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
rejoicev.
/rᵻˈdʒɔɪs/, U.S. /rəˈdʒɔɪs/, /riˈdʒɔɪs/α. Middle English regoiese, Middle English regoyse, Middle English reioisse, Middle English reioysse, Middle English rejoisse, Middle English rejoysse, Middle English resioysse, Middle English reyjoysse, Middle English reyoyse, Middle English–1500s reioyese, Middle English–1500s rejoys, Middle English–1500s reyoise, Middle English–1600s reioice, Middle English–1600s reioise, Middle English–1600s reioyce, Middle English–1600s reioys, Middle English–1600s reioyse, Middle English–1600s rejoise, Middle English–1600s rejoyse, Middle English–1700s rejoyce, Middle English– rejoice, 1500s reioyuce, 1500s reyoice, 1500s–1600s reioes, 1500s–1600s reiois, 1500s–1600s reioyes; Scottish pre-1700 raiois, pre-1700 regoys, pre-1700 reioice, pre-1700 reiois, pre-1700 reioiss, pre-1700 reioiys, pre-1700 reioiyss, pre-1700 reioyce, pre-1700 reioyis, pre-1700 reioys, pre-1700 reioyse, pre-1700 reioyss, pre-1700 rejoes, pre-1700 rejois, pre-1700 rejoise, pre-1700 rejoyce, pre-1700 rejoyes, pre-1700 rejoyis, pre-1700 rejoys, pre-1700 rejoyse, pre-1700 rejoyss, pre-1700 resioys, pre-1700 1700s– rejoice.
β. Middle English reioische, Middle English reioishe, Middle English reioissche, Middle English reioissh, Middle English reioisshe, Middle English reioysche, Middle English reioyshe, Middle English reioysshe, Middle English rejoisshe, Middle English rejoysche, Middle English rejoysshe, Middle English resioysshe.
γ. Middle English reiosche, Middle English reioshe.
δ. late Middle English reiosse, late Middle English reyose, late Middle English 1600s reios, late Middle English–1500s reiose, late Middle English–1600s reioce, 1500s rejose, 1500s reyoce; Scottish pre-1700 raios, pre-1700 reioce, pre-1700 reios, pre-1700 reiose, pre-1700 reioss, pre-1700 reiosz, pre-1700 rejos, pre-1700 rejose, pre-1700 rejoss, pre-1700 reos (transmission error), pre-1700 roios.
I. To feel joy or delight.† 1. † 5. transitive. To feel joy on account of (an event, etc.). it is rejoiced: it is greeted with joy, there is rejoicing (that something is so). Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To give praise to. Also transitive: to praise. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xlviii. 19 (MED) He shal reioys to þe [L. confitebitur tibi] whan þou hast wele don to hym.
1445 tr. Claudian's De Consulatu Stilichonis in Anglia (1905) 28 269 (MED) Gladsom wey is openyd To happy wittis which evir reioysen vertue in pryncis high.
b. transitive. Hunting. To reward (a hound). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > hunt with hounds [verb (transitive)] > reward hound
rejoicec1425
flesh1530
c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 41 (MED) Þan þe huntere reioyceþ his houndes for þe exploit of his houndes.
2. To feel or show great joy or delight; to express happiness; to be full of joy, to be extremely glad; to exult.
a. intransitive. With at, over; formerly also with †of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > have or possess [verb (transitive)] > possess a condition or position
haveOE
hold1340
rejoicec1390
beara1393
possess?a1425
acquire1474
pack1925
c1390 Form of Confession (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 340 (MED) In Envye I knowleche me gulti, Regoiesyng ofte-tyme of myn euencristene harmes.
1483 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 157 All the comones of the Contre greitly rejoysshe therof.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 683/2 I have rejoysed..at his prosperyte.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judith x. 9 That Ierusalem maye reioyse ouer the.
1605 L. Andrewes Serm. (1841) I. 14 They rejoice of our good.
1721 A. Pope Corr. 21 Oct. (1956) II. 88 Your very..obliging manner of enquiring after me,..at your Resuscitation, should have been sooner answer'd... I sincerely rejoice at your recovery.
1771 H. Mackenzie Man of Feeling 209 I cannot throw off the man so much, as to rejoice at our conquests in India.
1820 Times 13 Sept. 3/2 The Columbians have rejoiced at the freedom of the Spanish people; but they are determined to be no longer slaves to their European brethren.
1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 8 Rejoicing at that answer to his prayer.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers v. 89 She always brought back some little thing..a couple of postcards for Annie, that the whole family rejoiced over for days before the girl was allowed to send them away.
1947 Landfall Dec. 286 The sneak in me rejoiced at his rebuff.
1968 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 29 Feb. 495/1 Dr. E. Leach..believed that science offers us total mastery over our environment and over our destiny and yet instead of rejoicing over this, we are deeply afraid.
2002 A. N. Wilson Victorians xii. 143 Broadly speaking the internationalist minority, including Prince Albert, rejoiced at the number of foreigners.
b. intransitive. Without complement.
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
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §23 Man shal reioysse wt hem þt maken ioye and wepen wt swich folk as wepen.
?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 55 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 53 His precious deeth made..cristen folk for to reioisen euere.
a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 4683 (MED) Whanne he is heled, he is ful faine And in his herte reioyseþ more Þan þei þat euere in hele wore.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 167 Quhairfoir me thocht all flouris did reios.
?a1560 in T. Wright Songs & Ballads Reign Philip & Mary (1860) 5 Nothyng shall let us nowe to rejoys and be fayne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) v. i. 209 O reioyce Beyond a common ioy. View more context for this quotation
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule & Exercises Holy Living iv. §9. 345 He once suffered, and for that reason he rejoyces for ever.
1718 Free-thinker No. 65. 2 The Nation rejoyces: The Prince is pleased.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxvii. 303 They naturally rejoice, when they see a signal instance of tyranny resisted with success.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna viii. xxviii. 191 As if the sea, and sky, And earth, rejoiced with new-born liberty.
1885 R. Burton Arabian Nights 14 Seeing this, the fisherman rejoiced and said, ‘If I sell it in the brass-bazaar, 'tis worth ten golden dinars’.
1926 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (subscribers' ed.) xiv. 72 The Arabs rejoiced when they came, and believed they were now equals of the Turk.
1992 Newsweek 11 May 10/2 In 1990, paleontologists rejoiced when they discovered a complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the high plains of South Dakota.
2004 Short Easy Hairstyles Sept. 12/1 (caption) Ladies with curls rejoice! Curly Sues make up about 53% of the women in the world.
c. intransitive. With infinitive.
ΚΠ
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 512 (MED) He reioyseth for to take on honde Þis dredful labour.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Order of Fools (Laud) in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 453 (MED) He is a fooll..who reioissheth to soioure in prisoun.
a1500 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 121 (MED) Sporte, myrthe, and play Me reioyceth for to see.
a1500 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Adv.) in W. B. D. D. Turnbull Visions of Tundale (1843) 112 They in hart rejoysed not a lyte On hym to loke that they have lybarte.
1561 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates i, in Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 8 Vtheris..reioyses to be callit Gospellaris and cunning in Scripture.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 493 Reioycing to see another merry. View more context for this quotation
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 66 O thou woful town of Mansoul! wilt thou not yet set open thy gate to receive us, the Deputies of thy King, and those that would rejoyce to see thee live? View more context for this quotation
1742 T. Gray Let. 8 May in Poems (1775) 148 I rejoice to see you putting up your prayers to the May.
1787 J. Wedgwood Let. 16 June in Sel. Lett. (1965) xix. 305 I rejoice to find that all croaking against the treaty is at an end everywhere, except now and then a silly paragraph in some of the opposition papers.
1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound i. i. 31 Grey mountains, and old woods..Rejoice to hear what yet ye cannot speak.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 41 Never man rejoiced More than Geraint to greet her thus attired.
1877 H. H. Boyesen Tales from Two Hemispheres i. vi. 67 I shall always rejoice to hear of your success.
1914 S. Lewis Our Mr. Wrenn xix. 253 With her head on his shoulder—a soft burden of love that his shoulder rejoiced to bear—they stood gazing out of the narrow kitchen window.
1978 Washington Post 7 July b2/3 The normal heart rejoices to think of wolves and quetzals flourishing in the great world.
2002 M. Holroyd Wks. on Paper 310 I think of myself as ‘the common viewer’ in much the same way as Dr Johnson spoke of ‘the common reader’. And I rejoice to concur with him or her.
d. intransitive. With that-clause.
ΚΠ
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 3459 He..reioiseth..Þat Fortune list hym so avaunce.
c1535 M. Nisbet New Test. in Scots (1901) I. 15 He writte vnto anne certanne lady and rejoysit that hir childrynne walkit in the trewth.
?a1562 G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (1959) 122 Lett vs all reioyse & be glade that god & the kyng hathe so graciously remembred to restore vs.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) v. i. 30 What were more holy, Then to reioyce the former Queene is well? View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 475 Whether I should repent me..or rejoyce..that much more good thereof shall spring. View more context for this quotation
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 122 If I could but tell this Part,..I should rejoice that I recorded those Things, however short and imperfect.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 339 Once more I..rejoice That yet a remnant of your race survives.
1817 R. Owen New View of Society (new ed.) 121 The old would rejoice that they had been trained in habits of industry, temperance, and foresight.
1881 A. Trollope Dr. Wortle's School II. vii. 131 Ought I not to rejoice that he is dead?
1915 A. Conan Doyle Valley of Fear ii. vi. 276 He rejoiced that they should all be there to take counsel over his news.
1988 A. Brookners Latecomers x. 146 And if I got here by an unorthodox route I rejoice all the more that I got here at all.
2005 T. K. Beal Roadside Relig. vi. 125 As an evangelical born-againer, he was supposed to rejoice that they were saved in the nick of time.
e. With in.
(a) intransitive. To be made joyful by, to exult in.
ΚΠ
1458 Reconciliation Henry VI & Yorkists in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 194 God hold hem longe..That Anglond may reioise in concord & vnite.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Mii That other gloryed & reioysed in his power.
1540 Bible (Great) Luke i. 47 My soule magnifyeth the Lorde. And my spiryte hath reioysed in God my sauyoure.
1629 J. Gaule Practique Theories Christs Predict. 181 I shall once so reioyce in him, that I cannot more reioyce at my selfe.
1694 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding (new ed.) ii. xxi. 136 A little pain serving to marr all the pleasure we rejoyced in.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. v. 80 When we rejoyce in the Prosperity of others.
1785 W. Cowper Task v. 326 Rejoice in him, and celebrate his sway.
1819 P. Morris in Blackwood's Mag. 6 309 The mind wandering abroad rejoices in joining itself with..the soothing liquidity of rivers.
1858 Harper's Mag. Apr. 584/2 Here and yonder were seen carriages filled with our fellow-voyagers, rejoicing in the music.
1903 R. Bridges Wintry Delights 70 Rejoicing In vegetant or brute existence.
2002 B. Blackbeard Krazy Kat & Ignatz 6 Only the blessed few who recognize and rejoice in genius wherever it is found..are going to gleefully raid the exchequer in order to buy this latest collection of the Coconino chronicles.
(b) intransitive. To possess as a source of pride; hence (frequently ironically) to possess (something strange or curious).Apparently originally (and still frequently) with the name (of) — as object: cf. quot. 1784.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > have or possess [verb (transitive)]
holda855
haveeOE
feoffc1330
werec1330
possede1392
possess1394
to be seized (seised) of or with1477
get1611
rejoice1822
1784 J. Newton Apologia iv. 119 You rejoice in the name of a Protestant Dissenter, as setting you free from the shackles and impositions of men.]
1822 Brit. Rev. Sept. 445 The Macnabs, who, we understand, still flourish in the very district where they were found when they rejoiced in the name of Macraby.
1833 T. Hamilton Men & Manners Amer. II. vii. 293 The men..rejoiced in snuff-coloured waistcoats and unimaginables.
1859 Harper's Mag. Jan. 165/2 Another, a sloth and a pair of ant-eaters; a third rejoiced in the ownership of a pet crocodile.
1922 L. Baldwin Van Slyke Brides will be Brides in Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald 13 Oct. 28/1 [The restaurant] rejoiced in the absurd name ‘The Hole in The Rat Cheese’.
1980 Dædalus Spring 103 Repressed Hindus rejoice in myths of extreme forms of ascetic yogic mortification.
2002 J. Cohen & I. Stewart Evolving Alien x. 220 Wang's group achieved this using an amino acid rejoicing in the name of O-methyl-L-tyrosine; Doring's group used aminobutyrate.
3. transitive (reflexive). To make oneself glad or joyful, to cheer oneself; (also) = sense 2b. Also in extended use. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > rejoicing or exultation > rejoice or exult [verb (reflexive)]
blissc1175
joyc1260
joisec1320
glad1340
rejoicec1400
enjoysec1470
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xviii. l. 198 (MED) Thei defouleden here fleesh, for-soken here owen wil..no book bote here conscience, Noþer richesse bote þe rode to reioyesen [a1400 Laud 656 reioyse, c1400 Trin. Cambr. reioisshen, a1425 London Univ. reioysen, a1425 Cambr. Ff.5.35 reiosche; c1400 Vesp. reioie] hem inne.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 206 (MED) Þei reioyssen hem [Fr. se glorifient] hugely for to speke þere of.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope vi. xv. f. cxiiij None oughte to reioysshe hym self of his worship.
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. Biv (MED) Whan yowre hawke hath slayne a fowle..let hir not flie..tyll..she haue Reiosed hir, that is to say, tyll she haue sewed or snyded her beke.
1512 Helyas in W. J. Thoms Early Eng. Prose Romances (1858) III. 91 Every person rejoyced them in theyr degree.
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. C1v Reioycing my selfe on..the hope I haue to be returned in safety.
a1614 in J. Melvill Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) p. lvii [James Melvill] oft tymes rejoyced himselff with that speich of [Paul].
c1669 Life M. Rawdon (Camden) 30 A merry journie they had of itt, and, havinge staid this tour of three dayes rejoycinge themselves, the wind came faire.
1770 G. Baretti Journey London to Genoa I. x. 63 Every street-walker would give a pull to his bag, merely to rejoice themselves.
1843 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Home i. xx. 185 The Assessor rejoiced himself not at all.
1876 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera VI. lxii. 60 Rejoice myself with a glance at the volutes of the Erectheium.
1904 Inlander (Univ. Michigan) 14 34 He rejoiced himself in much unctuous dilation on it.
1999 E. Evans Carter Clay (2000) 349 Carter—not rejoicing himself—peels potatoes in the cabin's dark little kitchen.
4.
a. transitive. In passive. To be made joyful or happy; to be gladdened or cheered. Frequently with at; also with that-clause or infinitive; formerly also with other prepositions, as †in, †of, etc. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1424 in J. D. Marwick Charters Edinb. (1871) 213 Als of your happy deliuerance Wytht al our hartis heyli we ar reioisit.
?1435 ( J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 631 (MED) For Dauyd, affter his victorie, Reioyssed was alle Ierusalem.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 269 To maynteym weill thair franchise, He wes reiosit on mony wise.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 709 Off his presence scho rycht reiosit was.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 275 Of whose comynge the hole courte was greatly rejoysed.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 58 I am reioysit at my hart, To se his godlie face.
1601 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1884) 1st Ser. VI. 257 Quha being exceidinglie rejoysit [etc.].
1666 S. Pepys Diary 6 June (1972) VII. 151 All the Court was in a hubbub, being rejoiced over head and ears in this good news.
1692 W. Congreve Incognita 33 He was not a little rejoyc'd at his good Fortune.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. i. 3 The Wind ceased, and it was a perfect Calm, whereat I was not a little rejoyced.
1735 London Mag. Dec. 533/2 I was rejoiced to find my conjectures confirmed.
1788 C. Reeve Exiles III. 89 I was rejoiced to find him so rational and persuadable.
1801 Lusignan II. 94 You do not..look half so rejoiced when we meet as I do.
1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 105 The King was rejoiced at seeing him.
1873 A. Trollope Eustace Diamonds II. lii. 341 The money was gone too, as she was rejoiced to find.
1914 G. Fitzmaurice Moonlighter iv, in Five Plays 122 In glee I was thinking how rejoiced you would be to see the change has come over me.
1955 M. Kempton Part of our Time 2004 ix. 281 In 1936 Frankensteen was rejoiced by the tireless assistance of a young man named John Andrews.
b. transitive. To cause to be joyful; to make happy, gladden, exhilarate (a person, his or her spirits, etc.); to cheer, please greatly. Also in extended use. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > quality of causing joy or delight > make joyful or delighted [verb (transitive)]
blissa1000
faina1300
joy1303
delighta1382
rejoya1393
forblissa1400
gleea1400
rejoicec1425
blymc1440
delect1510
take?1553
gladden1558
oblectate1611
beglada1617
deliciate1633
delectate1647
to set (a person) cock-a-hoop1652
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 1214 (MED) Titan gan maken his repeire With þe briȝtnes of his bemys merye For to reioische al oure Emysperye.
c1430 (c1370) G. Chaucer A.B.C. (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1878) l. 101 We han non oþer melodye ne gle Vs to reioyse in oure aduersite.
c1475 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1913) 130 310 (MED) Then herde I a noyse celestiall, Reioysyng my sprytes inwardly.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 551 Thar cummyng Reiosyt rycht gretumly the king.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. f.iv All these hystoryes, noble and auncyent Reioysynge the audyence, he sange with pleasuer.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball ii. lxxi. 241 It reioyceth and recreateth the spirites.
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 40 This, as it rejoyced the King, so it put him in mind of the vicissitude of all worldly [reads wordly] things.
1679 J. Banks Destr. Troy iv. i. 58 This Arm shall soon rejoyce their drooping Hearts And turn the Scale.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 269. ¶8 I love to rejoyce their poor Hearts at this Season.
1775 Ld. Kames Sketches Hist. Man (new ed.) II. ii. viii. 278 It rejoices me, that the same method is practiced in this island.
1814 Ld. Byron Let. 3 Aug. (1975) IV. 152 It rejoiceth me that you like ‘Lara’.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xvii. 431 His body he rejoices with sack-posset.
1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche iii. vi. 29 Too fair for human art, so Psyche thought, It might the fancy of some god rejoice.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage cxx. 635 It rejoiced him to use his limbs freely, and he covered the water with long, firm strokes.
1985 L. Whistler Laughter & Urn xv. 146 He had just had news from his mother that rejoiced him. I had won the school prize.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > rejoicing or exultation > rejoice over or at [verb (transitive)]
overjoya1382
rejoicec1425
to roll in ——?a1500
joy1596
to roll into ——1602
congratulatea1631
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > rejoicing or exultation > there is rejoicing [phrase]
it is rejoicedc1425
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 3406 (MED) Noon of hem schulde be victorie Þe deth reioische of other by memorie; For alle y-fere þus þei made an ende.
1468 in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 388 My lorde coude nat bileve it but if he harde it how it is reioysshid in som place þat he is nat chaunceleer.
1505 F. Marsin et al. Rep. Ferdinand of Arragon in J. Gairdner Historia Regis Henrici Septimi (1858) 256 They that knowe your grace gretely do rejoyse the maryaje.
a1535 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. (1557) 1279/1 His visitacion thei reioysed not, but were afeard to come nere him.
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie Concl. 24 Let vs rather..Lament their false facktes then reioyce their foule falls.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. vi. 369 Nere Mother Reioyc'd deliuerance more. View more context for this quotation
1689 E. Howard Caroloiades viii. 285 Foes durst there rejoyce their Kings defeat.
6.
a. transitive. To enjoy the benefit of possessing (something); to have or assume full possession and use of (a thing), to own; (also) to reign over (a kingdom, etc.), to rule. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > have or possess [verb (transitive)] > possess and use or enjoy
joyc1330
to fare witha1340
rejoicea1375
joisea1400
rejoy?1455
wear1573
undergo1604
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 4102 Here sone after mi dissece Miȝte reioische þat reaume.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 2032 (MED) Swyche an eyre..Shal neuer wel reioshe [v.r. ioyȝe in] hys lande.
1424 in T. A. Beck Annales Furnesienses (1844) 295 That he have and rejoise iiij.xx cartfulle of Turfes yerly with in the place forsaide.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 374 She wolde have slayne Trystrams, because her chyldir sholde rejoyse his londe.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cviii. f. xlviiiv He reioysed his Reygne but shorte whyle.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cci. [cxcvii.] 615 The duke of Lancastre is gone into Acquytayne, to reioyce the gyfte that the kynge..hath gyuen hym.
1575 G. Fenton Golden Epist. f. 144 Manye Couetous men doe wee see..to whom God geeues Power to gette Ryches..but not Lybertye to reioyce and vse them.
b. transitive. To enjoy the benefit of (a condition, privilege, etc.). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 99 (MED) We mown graciously ascape þat dreedful day of doom, and with hise chosen children entren þe gate of blis, þe glorious siȝt of hym euere to reioyce.
1485 Act 1 Henry VII c. 2 in A. F. Pollard Reign Henry VII (1914) II. ii. 269 They have and rejoice such fredomes and liberties as doth denesyns born within this realm.
a1500 (?a1410) J. Lydgate Churl & Bird (Lansd.) 113 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 473 (MED) But if thou wilt reioissh my syngyng, Late me go flee free.
c1545 in J. M. Anderson Early Rec. Univ. St. Andrew's (1926) xxi And that we reios & haue the priuilegis thairof.
c. transitive. To have (a person) as a husband or wife; to possess (a woman), to have for oneself; to take as a lover; to enjoy (a woman) sexually. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > have as one's spouse [verb (transitive)]
rejoice?a1439
consort?1615
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. 5005 (MED) Darie caste..Hir to reioysshe ageyn his fadris will.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 281 Sytthen I myght nat rejoyse the nother thy body on lyve, I had kepte no more joy in this worlde but to have thy body dede.
a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) 3696 (MED) This is the comon voyse In all the courte that he shall hir reioyse.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) lxxxix. sig. A*iiiv Who so euer shold haue the caplet..shoulde in lykewyse reioyse my lady Florence your doughter.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. 29/13 The maist parte of thame [sc. virgins and maidens]..fell in pray to thare takaris; ilk man reiosit hir that he gatt.
d. intransitive. To reign, rule. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Kings of Eng. (Harl. 372) in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 716 The Sext Herry..To whom God hath yovyn souereyn suffisaunce..Long to reioissh [c1450 Bodl. Add. reiose, c1460 Harl. 2169 regoyse] and regne heer in his riht.
a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1713 (MED) Hys yongyst sone þen ordeygned hee Aftur hys Fadur kynge to bee; God grawnt hym wele to reyoyse!
Derivatives
reˈjoiced adj. now rare
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective]
fainc888
gladlyc1000
golikc1175
gladful?c1225
joyfulc1290
joyousc1315
merryc1380
well begonea1425
frikec1430
rejoiced1533
delightful1534
rejoiceful1538
blitheful1559
gladded1569
blithelike1570
delighted1581
lighted1596
delighting1601
joyed1640
enjoying1651
gladdened1729
glad1799
like (or proud as) a dog with two tails1829
joyant1834
bird-blithe1917
gassed1941
enthralled1944
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. 20 And saw his nevois..returnyng with reiosit visage to him.
1761 M. Collyer tr. S. Gessner Death Abel iv. 181 His mercy, His munificence, exceeds the power of words to express, are too great for the rejoic'd heart to conceive.
1875 J. W. De Forest Honest John Vane iii. 34 Olympia was sensible enough and sensitive enough to carry away a rejoiced heart from this interview.
2004 K. Carroll tr. E. V. Anisimov Five Empresses 280 See the rejoiced Semenovskii men running toward them to greet their ‘mother’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1445
v.c1350