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To degenerate. [Obs.] "Degendering to hate." Spenser. He degenereth into beastliness. Joye.

Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate. [Obs.] Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury. Milton.

mind; a high-wrought state of pleasurable feeling; lively pleasure; extreme satisfaction; joy. Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Shak. A fool hath no delight in understanding. Prov. xviii. 2.

The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton.

on. Till the loathsome opposite Of all my heart had destined, did obtain. Tennyson. Not enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destined end or way. Longfellow.

Esth. ix. 5. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Shak. Destruction of venerable establishment. Hallam.

To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses. Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, Devour her o'er with vast delight. Dryden.

iously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; -- with on or upon. But still on their ancient joys dilate. Crabbe.

Freedom from engrossing occupation; leisure. Disengagement is absolutely necessary to enjoyment. Bp. Butler.

To disinherit; to cut off, or detain, from the possession or enjoyment of an inheritance. [Obs.] Spenser.

ll dissension and disputation with them. Acts xv. 2. Debates, dissension, uproars are thy joy. Dryden. A seditious person and raiser-up of dissension among the people. Robynson (More's Utopia).

The hindering or disquieting of a person in the lawful and peaceable enjoyment of his right; the interruption of a right; as, the disturbance of a franchise, of common, of ways, and the like. Blackstone.

One who interrupts or incommodes another in the peaceable enjoyment of his right.

A widow endowed, or having a jointure; a widow who either enjoys a dower from her deceased husband, or has property of her own brought by her to her husband on marriage, and settled on her after his decease. Blount. Burrill.

That portion of the real estate of a man which his widow enjoys during her life, or to which a woman is entitled after the death of her husband. Blackstone.

Hence, anything that retards; a clog; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment. My lectures were only a pleasure to me, and no drag. J. D. Forbes.

wish well to, in the act of taking the cup; to pledge in drinking. I drink to the general joy of the whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo. Shak.

to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise. This earthly load Of death, called life. Milton. Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Phil. iii. 19.

sully; to cloud; to throw into the shade by surpassing. "His eclipsed state." Dryden. My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. Shak.

Excessive and overmastering joy or enthusiasm; rapture; enthusiastic delight. He on the tender grass Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy. Milton.