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delight definition

de·light (di līt)

transitive verb

to give great joy or pleasure to

Etymology: ME deliten < OFr delitier < L delectare, to delight, freq. of OL delicere < de-, from + lacere, to entice, lit., to ensnare < IE base *lek-, twig, snare > OE læl, whip: sp. infl. by light

intransitive verb

  1. to give great joy or pleasure
  2. to be highly pleased; rejoice: usually with in or an infinitive

noun

  1. great joy or pleasure
  2. something giving great joy or pleasure
  3. Old Poet. the power of pleasing

Etymology: ME & OFr delit < the v.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

delight Synonyms

delight

n.

enjoyment, joy, pleasure; see happiness 2, pleasure 1. See syn. study at pleasure.


delight

v.

  1. To give pleasure

    please, enchant, amuse, charm; see entertain 1, fascinate, gladden.

  2. To take pleasure; often used with in

    relish, enjoy, revel in, luxuriate in; see like 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

delight Usage Examples

Object

  • audience: We had a wonderful time and delighted the audience.

Adjective modifier

  • culinary: Singapore's popular hawker stalls are actually serving up a melting pot of culinary delights forged by Singapore's unique multi-cultural heritage.

Modifies a noun

  • soccer: Soccer: Neil looks up with U's Soccer: Parky's chasing double delight Soccer: Tony chomping at the bit for.. .

Noun used with modifier

  • naturalist: Deciduous ancient woodlands run down tiny valleys to the seas edge and birdwatchers and naturalists delight in the abundance of wildlife.

Possessives

  • shepherd: ANNIVERSARIES FOR MARCH PROVERBS Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.

Used with why or when

  • when: The thought, " Good have I done, " delights him, and he delights even more when gone to realms of bliss.

Infinitive complement

  • announce: New webmail Global Internet is delighted to announce a brand new Webmail facility.

Preposition: in

  • abundance: Deciduous ancient woodlands run down tiny valleys to the seas edge and birdwatchers and naturalists delight in the abundance of wildlife.

Preposition: of

  • onlooker: Following his excellent game on Christmas Day and much to the delight of the onlookers, Doonie Stuart Rosie emerged triumphant.

Preposition: with

  • turnout: Acting manager of the Crisis Service in North Cumbria, Clare Devlin, was delighted with the turnout.
delight usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

delight quotes

Give methemanwho will surrender the whole world for a moss or a caterpillar, and impracticable visions for a simple human delight.

-Bruce Frederick Cummings

Watch against inordinate sensual delight in even the

-Baxter, Richard

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.But his delight is in the law of the L; and in his law doth he meditate dayand night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in hisseason; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodlyare not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

-Bible (Old Testament)

delight quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"delight." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/delight>

APA Style

delight. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/delight

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