Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- the act of a person who rejoices.
- the feeling or the expression of joy.
- Often rejoicings. an occasion for expressing joy.
verb (used without object), re·joiced, re·joic·ing.
- to be glad; take delight (often followed by in): to rejoice in another’s happiness.
verb (used with object), re·joiced, re·joic·ing.
- to make joyful; gladden: a song to rejoice the heart.
verb
- (when tr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive ; when intr , often foll by in) to feel or express great joy or happiness
- (tr) archaic to cause to feel joy
late 14c., verbal noun from rejoice (v.). Related: Rejoicingly.
c.1300, “to own, possess, enjoy the possession of, have the fruition of,” from Old French rejoiss-, present participle stem of rejoir, resjoir “gladden, rejoice,” from re-, which here is of obscure signification, perhaps an intensive (see re-), + joir “be glad,” from Latin gaudere “rejoice” (see joy).
Originally sense in to rejoice in. Meaning “to be full of joy” is recorded from late 14c. Middle English also used simple verb joy “to feel gladness; to rejoice” (mid-13c.) and rejoy (early 14c.). Related: Rejoiced; rejoicing.