enjoy English · revision 3410

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la gaudēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/, /en-/, US /enˈdʒɔɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|enjoien]], [[bor|fro|enjoir|t=to give joy; to take delight in]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|fro|en-|t=make]] and [[m|fro|joir|t=to enjoy]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|gaudēre|t=to rejoice]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) through Vulgar Latin *gaudīre.^(Klein 1966) Hoad and the SOED also allow Old French enjoier “to give joy to”, from en- and joie, the source of [[joy]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Intransitive, “to be glad, rejoice”: about 1380^(OED 1989) or 1384, in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988) Trench notes that in Wycliffe's time ''enjoy'' was not yet distinguished from ''rejoice''.^(Trench 1859)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To have the use or benefit of”, as of property, is from the early 15th century^(Etymonline) (about 1460 in the OED),^(OED 1989) replacing native [[brook]] in this sense.^(Etymonline) The transitive “to take pleasure in” is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) 1462 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) “To make happy” was used from 1484 and is obsolete.^(OED 1989) The sense “to have sexual relations with” a woman is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''To enjoy oneself'' is by 1708,^(Etymonline) and the bare imperative ''enjoy!'' is originally North American, from the mid-20th century.^(SOED 2002) The word tends to lose its connection with pleasure: from 1577 it could be used of something not pleasant,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and Wright's dialect dictionary records ''to enjoy bad health'' widely in the north and west of England.^(Wright 1898)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – to rejoice.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1460 – to have the use of.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1462 – to take pleasure in.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1577 – of something unpleasant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – sexual sense.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1708 – ''enjoy oneself''.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-20th century – imperative ''enjoy!''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take [[pleasure]] or satisfaction in.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To have the use or benefit of: ''to enjoy good health''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To have a good time.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[enjoyable]]

+ * [[enjoyably]]

+ * [[enjoyer]]

+ * [[enjoyableness]]

+ * [[enjoyingly]]

+ * [[enjoyment]]

+ * [[reenjoy]]

+ * [[unenjoyed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[joy]]

+ * [[rejoice]]

+ * [[jewel]]

+ * [[gaudy]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In English dialects from Durham to Somerset ''enjoy'' meant “to endure, experience”, especially in ''to enjoy bad health'' or ''to enjoy poor health''.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}