1. Of persons, their feelings, etc.: Full of joy; having and showing a lively sense of pleasure or satisfaction; elated with gladness, delighted. † Formerly const. of.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 50/112. Ȝeot was heore heorte glad, and Ioyful, þo huy him founde.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 288. Were I at yow by-ȝonde þise wawez, I were a Ioyful Iueler.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 974. Medea the mayden … Was ioyfull of Iason, aioynit hym to.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xcix. [c.] 1. O be joyfull in God (all ye londes).
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., I. i. 51. A ioyfull mother of two goodly sonnes.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 75. Polimero taking him … for the Admirall, was the joyfullest man in the world.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IX. 72. Sad for their loss, but joyful of our life.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 87. He passed the night happy and joyful on account of his recovery.
1876. Mar. M. Grant, Sun-Maid, i. Ah, Monsieur, they are all joyful to receive you.
2. Of action, speech, looks, etc.: Expressing or manifesting joy; indicative of gladness.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 20516 (Fairf.). He … saide til ham wiþ ioiful steyuen comis wiþ me.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxiii. 5. When my mouth prayseth the with ioyfull lippes.
1611. Bible, Ps. lxvi. 1. Make a ioyfull noise vnto God, all yee lands.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 68. Being the first time that a joyfull looke was seene in that Court, sithence the departure of the Princesse.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 32. He was received … amidst the joyful acclamations of almost all Italy.
1842. Tennyson, Captain, 30. Then the Captain’s colour heighten’d, Joyful came his speech.
3. Of things, events, etc.: Fraught with, attended by, or causing joy; gladsome, delightful.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 786. Nere neuere king ne queue glad wanne hii him seie Ac to þe Ioiuol day hopede wanne he ssolde deie.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), ix. 34. He was putt oute of þat ioyfull place.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxvi. 232. All thynges and wethers fallen to me ioyfull and lykyng and gladsum.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. Luke xix. 6, Wks. 1867, II. 158. This was the joyfullest news that ever came to Zaccheus’s house.
1680. Burnet, Rochester, 143. It was one of the joyfullest things that befel him in his Sickness.
a. 1808. Hurd, Serm. Rev. xix. 10, Wks. 1811, V. 24. Contemplating with grateful admiration so joyful a state of things.
