happy

Etymology

From Middle English happy (“fortunate, happy”), perhaps an alteration of Middle English happyn, happen (“fortunate, happy”), possibly related to or from Old Norse heppinn (“fortunate, happy”); and potentially assimilated to be equivalent to hap (“chance, luck, fortune”) + -y. Compare also Icelandic heppinn (“lucky”), Norwegian Nynorsk heppen (“lucky”), Scots happin (“fortunate, blessed”). See further at hap.

adj

1. Having a feeling arising from a consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, such as comfort, peace, or tranquillity; blissful, contented, joyous.
   Music makes me feel happy.
   I may truely heere ſay vnto you, your ſelues alſo being witneſſe, and ſay it to the immortell praiſe of Gods name, to the honour of our Soueraigne, and to the ioy and comfort of all his people, that in this happineſſe, this reknowned Kingdome, among all, and aboue all Nations of the earth is bleſſed this day. Happie O King are thy people, and happie are thy Subiects or Seruants. 1609, Richard Crakanthorpe, “[https://books.google.com/books?id=bvtiAAAAcAAJ&pg=PT14 2. Chron[icles] Chap. 9.]”, in A Sermon at the Solemnizing of the Happie Inauguration of our Most Gracious and Religious Soueraigne King Iames. Wherein is Manifestly Proued, that the Soueraignty of Kings is Immediatly from God, and Second to No Authority on Earth whatsoeuer. Preached at Paules Crosse, the 24. of March last. 1608, London: Printed by W[illiam] Iaggard for Tho[mas] Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the blew Bell, →OCLC
   […] For the most happy universe is not one that consists of the greatest possible number of the most happy beings only; but one that consists of that, and the greatest possible number of beings next inferior to the first rank, and so downward, till we come to those that approach the nearest to insensible matter. 1731, Thomas Bayes, Divine Benevolence: or, An Attempt to Prove that the Principal End of the Divine Providence and Government is the Happiness of His Creatures: Being an Answer to a Pamphlet, Entitled, Divine Rectitude; or, An Inquiry Concerning the Moral Perfections of the Deity. With a Refutation of the Notions therein Advanced Concerning Beauty and Order, the Reason of Punishment, and the Necessity of a State of Trial antecedent to Perfect Happiness, London: Printed for John Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel, OCLC 642498368; quoted in Andrew I. Dale, Most Honourable Remembrance: The Life and Work of Thomas Bayes (Studies and Sources in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences), New York, N.Y.: Springer, 2003, ISBN 978-0-387-00499-0, page 138
   [S]ince the happy are sufficient to themselves they have no need of friends; and hence it is said, "When Fortune's goods abound, what boots a friend?" Thus then it appears that the happy do not require friends. 1807, anonymous [formerly incorrectly attributed to Andronicus of Rhodes], “That the Happy Man has Need of Worthy Friends”, in William Bridgman, transl., The Paraphrase of an Anonymous Greek Writer, (hitherto Published Under the Name of Andronicus Rhodius) on the Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle. Translated from the Greek, by William Bridgman, F.L.S., London: Printed by C[harles] Whittingham, 103, Goswell Street; and sold by T[homas] Payne, Pall-Mall; J. White Fleet-Street; Cuthell and Martin, Middle-Row, Holborn; and J. and A. Arch, Cornhill, →OCLC, book IX, page 415
   While they are in this state striving perhaps to render their fellow beings more happy, of whatever sect or denomination they may be, they meet with one or more persons who undertake to convert their mere cold belief in religious doctrines—which is at best little better than mere morality—into real effective religion, a religion that will move the tongue. 1829, Charles Knowlton, “On the Passions”, in Elements of Modern Materialism: Inculcating the Idea of a Future State, in which All Will be More Happy, under whatever Circumstances They May be Placed than if They Experienced No Misery in this Life, Adams, Mass.: Printed for the author, by A. Oakey, →OCLC, page 324
   A happy birthday to you, / A happy birthday to you, / A happy birthday, dear Roy, / A happy birthday to you. Note: This is the first occurrence in print of the lyrics of the song “Happy Birthday to You”. 1901, Edith Goodyear Alger, “Roy's Birthday”, in A Primer of Work and Play, Boston, Mass.: D. C. Heath and Company, →OCLC, page 49
   In different ways, therefore, for many pupils, whether they benefit greatly from the system, or just 'get by', or are 'bored stiff' by the lessons, or for the most part are completely rebellious, schooldays do often appear to be 'the happiest days'. 1990, Peter Woods, “Laughing at School”, in The Happiest Days?: How Pupils Cope With Schools, Basingstoke, Hants: The Falmer Press, Taylor & Francis, page 182
   Because I'm happy / Clap along if you know what happiness is to you / Because I'm happy / Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do 21 November 2013, Pharrell Williams (lyrics and music), “Happy”, in Girl, performed by Pharrell Williams
   People who believe that a better life awaits us after this one would appear to have secured a happier ending, even before they come close to the end. There is little to be afraid of if you're armed with the promise of a wonderful future. Death is only a portal to greater joy. 2014, Erica Brown, “Pondering the Afterlife”, in Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, page 49
2. Experiencing the effect of favourable fortune; favored by fortune or luck; fortunate, lucky, propitious.
   […] I think 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 explain'd. 1661, Robert Boyle, “The Conclusion”, in The Sceptical Chymist: Or Chymico-physical Doubts & Paradoxes, Touching the Spagyrist's Principles Commonly Call'd Hypostatical; as They are wont to be Propos'd and Defended by the Generality of Alchymists. Whereunto is Præmis'd Part of another Discourse Relating to the Same Subject, London: Printed by J. Cadwell for J. Crooke, and are to be sold at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-Yard, →OCLC, page 429
   The UK’s earliest reactors – a type called Magnox – were set up to harvest plutonium for bombs; the electricity was a happy byproduct. December 15 2022, Samanth Subramanian, “Dismantling Sellafield: the epic task of shutting down a nuclear site”, in The Guardian
3. Content, willing, satisfied (with or to do something); having no objection (to something).
   Are you happy to pay me back by the end of the week?
   Yes, I am happy with the decision.
   A Christian may be happier in low circumstances, than in high ones. He may be happier without rich friends, than with them. He may be happier in loneliness, than in a crowd of flatterers. He may be happier under reproach, than when riding on the spring-tide of popularity. He may be happier with hard work, than in a life of ease. He may be happier with coarse and scanty food, than with tables of luxury. He may be happier in sickness and persecution, than in health and quietness. 1844, “Patience and Perseverance”, in J[oseph] Barker, editor, The Christian, volume I, number XIV, London: Chapman, 121, Newgate Street; Mardon, 7, Farringdon Street; Newcastle-on-Tyne: J[oseph] Barker, 3, Hood Street, →OCLC, page 314
   A strong acid is also a substance whose conjugate base (obviously a weak base) is quite happy with the excess electrons it got from that bond. 2007, I[ver] David Reingold, “Substitution Reactions”, in Organic Chemistry, or, “The Happy Carbon”: An Introduction Emphasizing Biological Connections, Delhi: Indo American Books, page 308
   This wave of "financial innovation" led to rapid growth in subprime lending, which was enhanced on the demand side by the housing boom and general asset price bubble. While the party lasted everyone was happy. Mortgage lenders were happy to lend and keep subprime loans off their books via securitization. Issuers of ABSs were happy to get their commissions. Borrowers were happy to get loans without scrutiny. Investors were happy to acquire assets that were "risk-free" and offered a return of hundreds of basis points over that offered by US Treasuries. 2016, Imad A. Moosa, “The Post-crisis Regulatory Landscape: An Overview”, in Contemporary Issues in the Post-crisis Regulatory Landscape, Singapore: World Scientific, page 8
4. (Of acts, speech, etc.) Appropriate, apt, felicitous.
   a happy coincidence
   The common privilege of your ſex affords you the happy opportunity of alleviating your ſorrows by communicating your ſentiments and feelings to some faithful friend; but to women, even this relief is rigidly denied, and, bound by the harſh reſtraints which the delicacy and reſerve of female natures have impoſed, I muſt bear the ſecret of my ſorrows with painful ſilence. 1792, James Thomson, “Letter XXXI. From the Hon. Miss Wilton to Mr. Benfield.”, in The Denial; or, The Happy Retreat. A Novel. … In Two Volumes, 2nd corr. edition, volume I, London: Printed for J. Sewell, No. 32, Cornhill, →OCLC, page 185
   You would, even by this most favourable result, be at best only replaced in the situation, and restored to the happy opportunity which you at present possess: […] 1804, [James Stephen], The Opportunity; or, Reasons for an Immediate Alliance with St. Domingo, London: Printed by C[harles] Whittingham, Dean Street, Fetter Lane; for J[ohn] Hatchard, Piccadilly, →OCLC, page 101
   When happy events coincide, that is a happy coincidence. But the coincidence of baneful events is a happy coincidence too. 1990, Jean Baudrillard, translated by Chris Turner, Cool Memories, London, New York, N.Y.: Verso Books, page 138
5. (in combination) Favoring or inclined to use.
   slaphappy, trigger-happy
   We live in a sue-happy society. If Santa slides off your roof and busts his tailbone, he could sue you, and probably will. 2002, Dan Benson, “Stupid Mistake #9: Following Fads vs. Staying the Course”, in 12 Stupid Mistakes People Make with Their Money, Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, page 128
   “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. 21 August 2012, Jason Heller, “The Darkness: Hot Cakes [music review]”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2012-08-24
6. (rare, of people, often followed by "at" or "in") Dexterous, ready, skilful.
   [I] could not without much grief obſerve how frequently both gentlemen and ladies are at a loſs for queſtions, anſwers, replies, and rejoinders. However, my concern was much abated, when I found that theſe defects were not occaſioned by any want of materials, but becauſe thoſe materials were not in every hand. 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; another is more dextrous in ſeconding; a third can fill the gap with laughing, or commending what has been ſaid. Thus freſh hints may be ſtarted, and the ball of the diſcourſe kept up. 1761, Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, according to the Most Polite Mode and Method now Used at Court, and in the Best Companies of England. In Three Dialogues. By Simon Wagstaff, Esq.; an Introduction.”, in The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, volume VII, Edinburgh: Printed for A. Donaldson, at Pope's Head, →OCLC, pages 245–246
7. Implying 'May you have a happy ~' or similar; used in phrases to wish someone happiness or good fortune at the time of a festival, celebration, or other event or activity.
   Happy birthday!, Happy Fourth of July!, Happy anniversary!, Happy job-hunting!

noun

1. (informal, rare) A happy event, thing, person, etc.
   The strike split the Chicano community. Many workers at Farah crossed picket lines and continued to keep the plant operating. They were known as the "happies" because they wore buttons which featured a smiling face and the slogan, "I'm happy at Farah. …" 1994, Lauri Coyle, Gail Hershatter, Emily Honig, “‘Why Did I Put Up With It All These Years’: The Farah Strike”, in Maxine Schwartz Seller, editor, Immigrant Women (SUNY Series in Ethnicity and Race in American Life), 2nd rev. edition, Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, page 290

verb

1. (intransitive, informal) Often followed by up: to become happy; to brighten up, to cheer up.
   Whenever I started drinking again after abstaining for any period of time, it usually was an effort to relieve stress and to "happy up." 2001, John L. Bullion, “Jokes”, in In the Boat with LBJ, Plano, Tex.: Republic of Texas Press, page 294
   [H]e smiled […] then asked my name. He checked it against his clipboard then sadly shook his head as if he'd been rejected himself. Told him I was looking for employment and he happied up again, able to help by directing me to apply at the front office, that the doors were on the Gower Street side. 18 July 2016, Wayne Kaatz, chapter 11, in Stuck on Earth, Bloomington, Ind.: Archway Publishing
2. (transitive, informal) Often followed by up: to make happy; to brighten, to cheer, to enliven.
   People really didn't want their Party Motivators in their photos, anonymous dancers, happying up the place. It spooked them. 2007, Mireille Juchau, “Sanctuary”, in Burning In, Artarmon, N.S.W.: Giramondo Publishing for the Writing & Society Research Group, University of Western Sydney, page 201
   […] [William] Glasser would probably say that happy people are "happying" themselves by choosing behaviors that help them to feel happy (working at their relationships, engaging in productive work activities, participating in desired recreational activities, etc.). 26 October 2015, Nickolas Martin, Ego Therapy: A Method for Healing Your Whole Self, Bloomington, Ind.: Balboa Press, Hay House