Also 7–8 injoyment. [f. ENJOY v. + -MENT.]
1. The action or state of deriving gratification from an object. Also, in weaker sense, the possession and use of something that affords pleasure or advantage. Const. of.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius (1570), 119 (R.). Why do you doubt for the enioyment of those thinges to breake out of this imprisonment?
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 378. Injoyment of many Lands.
1718. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. lvi. 86. The honest English squire … believes … that … there is no perfect enjoyment of this life out of Old England.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 212. He would protect the Established Church in the enjoyment of her legal rights.
1877. Sparrow, Serm., xxiii. 312. The depth of the peace which flows from the enjoyment of his love.
2. Gratification, pleasure; concr. something that gives pleasure.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. iii. (1669), 334. He cuts them off, in the height of their Injoyments.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 9. Food, drink, sleep, and the like animal enjoyments being what all men like and love.
1842. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, III. ix. 154. Such a life might have had its enjoyments even in London.
1874. Lady Barker, Station Life N. Zealand, iv. 25. We … were only fit for the lowest phase of human enjoyment—warmth, food, and sleep.
