delight

Delight conveys a sense of vivid, sparkling joy that is often more active and sensory than simple 'happiness.' It suggests a feeling of being charmed or enchanted by something.

As a noun, it describes both the internal emotion and the external object causing that emotion. When used to describe an object (e.g., "the garden is a delight"), it implies a quality of elegance, beauty, or unexpected pleasure.

When used as a verb, especially in the phrase "delight in," there is often a subtle nuance of smugness or mischievous satisfaction. It suggests not just enjoying something, but taking an active, sometimes prideful, pleasure in it.