Page History

SCANNED PDF

On  "Enjoy"  (OED, III III: 188 188)

4.  In  weaker  sense:  To  have  the  use  or  benefit  of,  have  for  one's  lot 
(something which affords  which affords  pleasure,  or  is  of  the  nature  of  an  advantage. 
1874  Animals  enjoying  a  much  lower  degree  of  intelligence. 
Sometimes  used  catachrestically  with  obj.  denoting  something  not 
pleasurable  or  advantageous. 
4.  In  weaker  sense: To have the use or benefit of, have for one's lot (something which affords pleasure, or is of the nature of an advantage...1874... Animals enjoying a much lower degree of intelligence intelligence. 

Sometimes used catachrestically with obj. denoting something not pleasurable not pleasurable or advantageous. 

Chiefly in expressions like 'to enjoy poor health,' 'to enjoy an indifferent reputationin­different  reputation,' where  where the sb. has properly a favourable sense, qualified adversely by the adj  quali­fied  adversely  by  the adj...Uses like those in quotS: 1577 like  those in quotes 1577, a 1633, to which to which this explanation does not apply, could not now occur.

1577In weaker sense: To have the use or benefit of, have for one's lot 1577...What shall I  I speake of Pertinax and what of Julian? En-
Or
~joyed Enjoyed not both theya--re they one kinde of death? a 1663...His Father, Mother and all and all his friends.. ^" .were not a little sorrowful to enjoy his absence. 1834...At best she enjoys poor health. 1871...The reigns of Alexander Severus , Severus and Caraca1la Caracalla...enjoyed an unhappy distinction for their grinding taxation.grinding taxation. 

Spring 1976-77