Etymograph

English

joy

Joy comes from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia (plural of gaudium, misread as feminine singular), from gaudeō ‘to rejoice’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgaudeō‘to be glad, rejoice’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgaudium
  3. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEgaudia
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400joie
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500joye‘joy’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1485joy

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgaudeō‘to be glad, rejoice’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgaudium
  3. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEgaudia
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400joie
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500joye‘joy’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1485joy

Earliest quotation: 1485, Sir Thomas Malory: “for oftymes or this oure lord shewed hym vnto…”

The story

The noun is from Middle English joye, borrowed from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (‘joy’), from gaudēre (‘to be glad, rejoice’).

Linked words

through Latin gaudium

gaudy

through Old French joie

joyous

through Middle English joye

jo

Today it means

noun A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin gaudeō / joy

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