An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Freude

by Friedrich Kluge

Freude, feminine, ‘joy, pleasure, delight,’ from the equivalent Middle High German vröude, vreude, Old High German fręwida, feminine; akin to freuen, Middle High German vröuwen, Old High German frouwen; see froh. For the suffix see Gemeinde, Begierde, Zierde, Beschwerde.