By Schubert Ogden
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