Forms: α. 4–7 enjoye, (4 enyoie, 5–6 enyoy), 5 enjoye, 7 enjoie, 6– enjoy. β. 5–8 injoy, 6–7 injoye, injoie. [a. either OF. enjoie-r (cf. It. ingiojare) to give joy to, refl. to enjoy, f. en- in + joie JOY; or OF. enjoir to enjoy, rejoice, f. en- + joir (Fr. jouir):—L. gaudēre; cf. rejoice.]
1. intr. To be in joy, or in a joyous state; to manifest joy, exult, rejoice.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Tracts, Wks. (1880), 243. Enyoie ȝe to him wiþ quakynge. Ibid. (1382), Luke i. 14. And manye schulen enioye in his natyuite.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom. (1878), 122 (Harl. MS.). He enioyed and was glad in al his herte.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 250/3. He sechyng the kyngdome of heuen enioyeth as a vaynqueur.
1549. Laneham, Lett., Pref. 41. Yet he neuer enioied after, but in conclusyon pitifully wasted his painful lyfe.
† b. To enjoy of: = sense 3 or 4 [Fr. jouir de.]
1515. Barclay, Egloges (1570), C iv/3. Likewise mayst thou inioy of our science.
1557. North, Diall of Princes, 238 a/1. Of all that I haue had, possessed, attained, and whereof I haue enioyed, I haue onely two thinges, [etc.].
† 2. trans. To put into a joyous condition; to make happy, give pleasure to. Obs.
1484. Caxton, Ryall Bk., C j. For to gladde and enjoye the people.
c. 1500. Melusine, 150. Whos taryeng enjoyed her moche.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men, IV. xxvii. (1506), 324. That it hym may enioye & recomforte in his spyryte.
1610. Markham, Masterp., II. li. 107. No meate will enioy or do good vnto him.
b. refl. To experience pleasure, be happy; now chiefly, to find pleasure in an occasion of festivity or social intercourse, in a period of recreation, etc.
1656. H. More, Antid. Ath., 92 (J.). Creatures are made to enjoy themselves, as well as to serve us.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac., III. § 2 (1737), I. 310. When I employ my Affection in friendly and social Actions … I can sincerely enjoy myself.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 422, ¶ 2. The agreeable Man makes his Friends enjoy themselves.
Mod. Did you enjoy yourself at the party? He is enjoying himself at the seaside. They have nothing to do but enjoy themselves.
3. trans. To possess, use or experience with delight. Also with reference to the feeling only: To take delight in, relish. Also absol.
1462. Paston Lett., No. 457, II. 109. Iche off us all schuld injoy the wylleffar off odyr.
1538. Starkey, England, ii. 67. No one can long Enyoy plesure.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. iv. 108. Such are the Rich, That haue aboundance, and enioy it not.
a. 1639. Reliq. Wotton., 12. Both well enough injoying the present.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 829. Adam wedded to another Eve, Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct.
1713. Addison, Cato, II. iii. (1721), 20 (T.). I cou’d enjoy the Pangs of Death, And Smile in Agony.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 137. How he … injoys … the Relations of his own rakish Actions.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. ii. 10. William enjoyed the novelty very much.
1872. Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 85. It is appointed for all men to enjoy, but for few to achieve.
b. with inf. as obj. colloq. or vulgar.
1864. Realm, 22 June, 3. She would greatly enjoy to dance at a ball once more.
4. In weaker sense: To have the use or benefit of, have for one’s lot (something that affords pleasure, or is of the nature of an advantage).
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 144. We schal now enjoye our own Goods [in peace under Edward IV.].
1535. Coverdale, Job xxxiii. 28. Latteth him enioye the light of ye lyuinge.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 811/2. He had of so long continuance inioied the name of iust and vpright.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xiv. 67. Mony is thrown amongst many, to be enjoyed by them that catch it.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, I. 88. As long as I enjoy my life.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, I. iv. (1840), 3/2. It [Allworthy’s house] stood … high enough to enjoy a most charming prospect.
1818. Cruise, Digest, VI. 300. Anne … shall hold and enjoy the same as a place of inheritance.
1830. D’Israeli, Charles I., III. iv. 52. Wentworth had not enjoyed the royal favour.
1874. Carpenter, Ment. Phys. (1879), I. vii. 324. Animals enjoying a much lower degree of intelligence.
¶ Sometimes used catachr. with obj. denoting something not pleasurable or advantageous.
Chiefly in expressions like ‘to enjoy poor health,’ ‘to enjoy an indifferent reputation,’ where the sb. has properly a favorable sense, qualified adversely by the adj. (Cf. the similar use of jouir de, censured by Fr. grammarians. Uses like those in quots. 1577, a. 1633, to which this explanation does not apply, could not now occur.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., 469. What shall I speake of Pertinax, and what of Iulian enioyed not both they one kinde of death?
a. 1633. Munday, Palmerin (1639), I. liv. His Father, Mother and all his friends … were not a little sorrowfull to enjoy his absence.
1834. Venn, Life & Lett. (1835), 407. At best she enjoys poor health.
1871. Macduff, Mem. 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). Obs.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 265. You shall, if you will, enioy Fords wife.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1032. Never did thy Beautie … so enflame my sense With ardor to enjoy thee.
