Obs. Forms: 5 ioys-, 6 ioyss-, ioyis-, iouiss-, iouys(s)-, 6–7 iouis-, 7 jouis(s)-, jovyss-, 7–8 arch. jovis-; 5–6 -aunce, 6–8 -ance. [a. late OF. jouissance, f. jouissant, pr. pple. of jouir to enjoy: see -ANCE. (Exemplified in Fr. only from 1534 by Hatz.-Darm.) The spelling jovi-, a misreading of ioui-, has been erroneously introduced by editors into Spenser and some other 16–17th-c. texts.]
1. The possession and use of something affording advantage: = ENJOYMENT 1.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, E vj b. He may not be peasyble to the reame ne haue the ioysaunce of it.
1539. St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 599. He concluded that the Duk of Sax shuld have the joyssance of all them.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxxviii. (1632), 122. In full jouyssance of them.
2. Pleasure, delight (= ENJOYMENT 2); merriment, mirth, festivity.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 25. To see those folkes make such iouysaunce. Ibid., Nov., 2. When shall it please thee sing … songs of some iouisaunce?
1594. Carew, Tasso (1881), 119. For such their comming, mirth and iouyssance.
1597. Pilgr. Parnass., IV. 489. Till you have tasted of this ioyisance.
1633. J. Done, Hist. Septuagint, 126. All the Company betook them to make cheare and to jouisance.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea, 98. We cannot abdicate wonted jovisances.
1750. W. Dodd, Poems (1767), 45. They rioted in jovisaunce secure.
