Preferred by conquest, happily o'erthrown.
Waller.
3. In a happy manner or state; in happy circumstances; as, he lived
happily with his wife.
4. With address or dexterity; gracefully; felicitously; in a manner to
insure success; with success.
Formed by thy converse, happily to steer From grave to gay, from
lively to severe.
Pope.
Syn. -- Fortunately; luckily; successfully; prosperously; contentedly;
dexterously; felicitously.
Hap"pi*ness, n. [From Happy.] 1. Good luck; good fortune; prosperity.
All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Shak.
2. An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good
fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those
circumstances or that state of being which is attended with enjoyment;
the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity;
blessedness.
3. Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of
language.
Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's a happiness,
as well as care.
Pope.
Syn. -- Happiness, Felicity, Blessedness, Bliss. Happiness is generic,
and is applied to almost every kind of enjoyment except that of the
animal appetites; felicity is a more formal word, and is used more
sparingly in the same general sense, but with elevated associations;
blessedness is applied to the most refined enjoyment arising from the
purest social, benevolent, and religious affections; bliss denotes
still more exalted delight, and is applied more appropriately to the
joy anticipated in heaven.
O happiness! our being's end and aim!
Pope.
Others in virtue place felicity, But virtue joined with riches and
long life; In corporal pleasures he, and careless ease.
Milton.
His overthrow heaped happiness upon him; For then, and not till
then, he felt himself, And found the blessedness of being little.
Shak.
Hap"py (hp"p), a. [Compar. Happier (-p*r); superl. Happiest.] [From Hap
chance.] 1. Favored by hap, luck, or fortune; lucky; fortunate;
successful; prosperous; satisfying desire; as, a happy expedient; a
happy effort; a happy venture; a happy omen.
Chymists have been more happy in finding experiments than the
causes of them.
Boyle.
2. Experiencing the effect of favorable 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;
as, happy hours, happy thoughts.
Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
Ps. cxliv. 15.
The learned is happy Nature to explore, The fool is happy that he
knows no more.
Pope.