Meanings
joyant1
comparative more joyant · superlative most joyant
- datedrareJoyous, joyful or jolly.
"They're but just beginnin'. What was th' da-ay that wumman was give th' vote but th' da-ay that a joyant Eve made be Providence woke up for th' makin' av ma-an walk darint in th' way he shud go.
1921, Good Housekeeping - Volume 73, page 1014 more examples
Yon rippling stream, whose dimpled waves Leap sparkling by the shadowy graves, Singing a song as they leap along — A joyant song as they leap along — Makes the only sound that stirs the breeze, Is the only thing which the vision sees, Moving about 'neath the church-yard trees.
1870, James Pummill, Russet Leaves, page 2091904, Myra Kelly, Little Citizens https://books.google.ru/books?id=A5zPFCqrkC0C&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq=Jealousy+may+have+played+some+part+in+the+misunderstanding,+for+it+was+undeniable+that+there+was+a+sprightliness,+a+joyant+brightness,+in+the+flowing&source=bl&ots=jMRHcIHvKh&sig=ldBCJnQ4erfOVU0-xDKzscJpNvs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHn6WVoY3OAhXkKJoKHUOxDUsQ6AEIHTAA#v=onepage&q=Jealousy%20may%20have%20played%20some%20part%20in%20the%20misunderstanding%2C%20for%20it%20was%20undeniable%20that%20there%20was%20a%20sprightliness%2C%20a%20joyant%20brightness%2C%20in%20the%20flowing&f=false Jealousy may have played some part in the misunderstanding, for it was undeniable that there was a sprightliness, a joyant brightness, in the flowing red scarf on Ignatius Aloysius's nautical breast, which was nowhere paralleled in Patrick's more subdued array.
As roseal day agleam with glowing light, Bespeaks the impress of a joyant hand, So when I meet my love the day is bright: The undershadows topped with glory's strand, By great illuming of the somber night, To one who else would long in shadow stand.
1905, Margaretta Ayres Karr, The heavenly voice: a life of Christ in blank verse1910, Myra Kelly, New Faces https://books.google.ru/books?id=IZiiUcgVqzQC&pg=PT149&dq=and+the+glow+of+joyant+Camelot+lit+all+th&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwji8YuboovOAhUrLZoKHX4UDgQQ6AEIGzAA#v=onepage&q=and%20the%20glow%20of%20joyant%20Camelot%20lit%20all%20th&f=false The glow of joyant Camelot lit all the southern sky.
joyant2
plural joyants
- pronunciation spellingPronunciation spelling of giant.
Pon my conscience,' says the joyant, says he, 'I niver knew flour to get so tough in the bakin' before,' says he.
1834 April 28, “Great Men of Munster”, in The Irish Monthly Magazine of Politics and Literature, volume 3, page 483 more examples
Well, the joyant came at him all so suddent, that in spite of himself, he had to keep to the wings in airnest (for if he would, you know, he'd never like to be so noticeable), at all ivints, not darin' to rest himself agin ;
1861, Ierne: or, Anecdotes and incidents during a life chiefly in Ireland“I'll tell you that, then, says one of his great ginerals; 'send for the great joyant Congcullion, siz he, “an av he don't make her hop, says he, “you may call me an honest man.”
1898, Gerald Griffin, Half sir, page 196...and that clift in the mountain was made by Fin Ma Cool, where he cut it acrass with a big swoord, that he got made a purpose by a blacksmith out o' Ruthdrum, a cousin av his own, for to fight a joyant that darr'd him on the Curragh o' Kildare;
2001, Georges Denis Zimmermann, The Irish Storyteller, page 156
Origin
joyant · adjective
From joy + -ant. Compare Old French joyant, joiant (“joyful; merry; rejoicing”).
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
joyant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/joyant
“joyant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/joyant. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “joyant,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/joyant.
Source: joyant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.