By Schubert Ogden
The Notebooks of Schubert Ogden
On "Enjoy" (OED, III: 188)
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.
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.
Sometimes used catachrestically with obj. denoting something not pleasurable or advantageous.
Chiefly in expressions like 'to enjoy poor health,' 'to enjoy an indifferent reputation,' where the sb. has properly a favourable sense, qualified adversely by the adj...Uses like those in quotes 1577, a 1633, to which this explanation does not apply, could not now occur.
1577...What shall I speake of Pertinax and what of Julian? Enjoyed not both they one kinde of death? a 1663...His Father, Mother 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 and Caracalla...enjoyed an unhappy distinction for their grinding taxation.
Spring 1976-77
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