Happy
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈhæpi/
- Rhymes: -æpi
Origin
From Middle English happy, from hap ("chance") (from Old Norse; see hap for more) + -y.
Full definition of happy
Adjective
happy
- Experiencing the effect of favourable fortune; having the feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, as peace, tranquillity, comfort; contented; joyous.
- 1769, Oxford Standard text, , , 144, xv,Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
- 1777, Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man in Four Epistles: Argument of Epistle II, in The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, Esq, Volume III, page 26,The learn'd is happy nature to explore,
The fool is happy that he knows no more ; - Music makes me feel happy.
- Favored by luck or fortune; lucky.
- 1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, 2006, Elibron Classics (imprint), page 227,...I may presume that what I have hitherto discoursed will induce you to think, that chymists have been much more happy in finding experiments than the causes of them; or in assigning the principles by which they may best be explained.
- Dexterous; ready; apt; felicitous.
- 1761, Jonathan Swift, A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation: Introduction, in The works of Dr Jonathan Swift, Volume VII, page 246,For instance, one lady can give an anſwer better than aſk a queſtion : one gentleman is happy at a reply ; another excels in a rejoinder : one can revive a languiſhing converſation by a ſudden ſurpriſing ſentence ;....
- Content, satisfied (with or to do something); having no objection (to something).Are you happy to pay me back by the end of the week?Are you happy with your internet service provider?
- 2012, August 21, Jason Heller, The Darkness: Hot Cakes (Music Review), “Baby, I was a loser
Several years on the dole
An Englishman with a very high voice
Doing rock ’n’ roll,†sings falsetto-happy frontman Justin Hawkins at the start of “Every Inch Of You,†Hot Cakes’ opener.
Usage notes
(favored by hap, luck or fortune) Said of expedients, efforts, ventures, omens, etc.
(experiencing the effect of favorable fortune) Said of people, hours, thoughts, times, etc.