Definition of "joy"

[…] 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

For, ye are our glory and ioy.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Thessalonians 2:20

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

1818, John Keats, “Book I”, in Endymion: A Poetic Romance, London: […] [T. Miller] for Taylor and Hessey, […], 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

'Rob? It's Gary. Are you having any joy with this trip to Bali?' 'No joy at all, mate. I reckon Bali's out for the foreseeable future. […]

2012, Robert Stansbridge, Bia's Wedding, page 4

Such ioy made Vna, when her knight she found;

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 32

The roofs with joy resound.

1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]

for oftymes or this oure lord shewed hym vnto good men and vnto good knyghtes in lykenes of an herte But I suppose from hens forth ye shalle see no more / and thenne they Ioyed moche / and dwelled ther alle that day / And vpon the morowe whan they had herde masse / they departed and commaunded the good man to god(please add an English translation of this quotation)

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter IX, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVII

I joy to see you wear around your neck the holy relic I bestowed on you;—but what Moorish charmlet is that you wear beside it?

1829, Walter Scott, chapter 8, in Anne of Geierstein‎, volume 3, Edinburgh: Cadell, page 222

I swore readily enough to this and he joyed with exceeding joy and embraced me round the neck while love for him possessed my whole heart.

1885, Richard Francis Burton (translator), The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 18, “Tale of the Portress,” p. 178

I haue my wish, in that I ioy thy sight,

1594 (first publication), Christopher Marlow[e], The Trovblesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edvvard the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, (please specify the page)

For from the time that Scudamour her bought,In perilous fight, she neuer ioyed day […] .

1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, page 5

Is this the Love, is this the recompenceOf mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, exprestImmutable when thou wert lost, not I,Who might have liv’d and joyd immortal bliss,Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:

1667, John Milton, “Book ”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 1164-1168

Then round our Death-bed ev'ry Friend ſhou'd run, / And joy us of our Conqueſt, early won: […]

1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], book III, page 88

Evil like Us they shun, and covet Good;Abhor the Poison, and receive the Food.Like Us they love or hate: like Us they know,To joy the Friend, or grapple with the Foe.

1709, Mat[thew] Prior, “(please specify the poem)”, in Poems on Several Occasions, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], page 405

Yet neither pleasure’s art can joy my spirits,Nor yet the other’s distance comfort me.

c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon, […], published 1609, [Act I, scene 2]