happy English · revision 3616

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1380 (Chaucer)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhæp.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|hap|-y|t1=chance, fortune]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004)^(Etymonline) Old English words for the idea were [[m|ang|ēadig]], from [[m|ang|ēad|t=wealth]], and [[m|ang|gesǣlig]], which became [[silly]], while Old English [[m|ang|blīþe]] survives as [[blithe]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lucky, favoured by fortune: about 1380, in Chaucer's ''House of Fame''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes that most European words for “happy”, from Greek to Irish, first meant “lucky”, Welsh being an exception, where the word first meant “wise”.^(Etymonline) Before the 14th century one could be ''glad'' but not ''happy''.^(Cresswell 2021) The sense “very glad” appears about 1390, in Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales'',^(Barnhart 1988) and “greatly pleased and content” in the 1520s.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Happiness'' is from 1530, in Palsgrave.^(Barnhart 1988) “Slightly drunk” is recorded from 1662.^(HTOED) ''Happy medium'' is from 1702, ''happy ending'' from 1756, the American ''happy hunting ground'' from 1840 and ''happy hour'' by 1961.^(Etymonline) ''Happy as a sandboy'' refers to sellers of sand, who were jolly because often drunk; a slang dictionary of 1823 has ''jolly as a sandboy''.^(Cresswell 2021) Australians say ''happy as Larry'', perhaps after the boxer Larry Foley, and Americans ''happy as a clam'', from the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The old sense “lucky” is now chiefly archaic or dialect, as in the Authorized Version's “happy are ye if ye do them”.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – lucky (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1390 – very glad (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1520s – pleased and content.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530 – ''happiness'' (Palsgrave).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1662 – slightly drunk.^(HTOED)

+ * 1702 – ''happy medium''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1756 – ''happy ending''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1961 – ''happy hour''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Feeling or showing pleasure, satisfaction or joy.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Favoured by luck; [[fortunate]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Well suited; [[felicitous]]: ''a happy choice''.^(AHD)

+ # Willing, glad: ''happy to help''.^(AHD)

+ # ''(in combination)'' Inclined to use something too readily: ''trigger-happy''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[happily]]

+ * [[happiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hap]]

+ * [[happen]]

+ * [[hapless]]

+ * [[perhaps]]

+ * [[glad]]

+ * [[blithe]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''happy'' with ''fortunate'', ''lucky'' and ''providential'', all meaning attended by good luck.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}