Middle English Dictionary Entry
happī adj. & adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | happī adj. & adv. |
| Etymology | From hap . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Favored by fortune, fortunate, prosperous, lucky; ~ bi, ~ in, ~ til, fortunate in possession of (sth. or sb.); ~ un)to, lucky with reference to (sth.); (b) blessed, happy.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.289 : Herodes..was most ungracious in homeliche þinges, and happy [L fortunatus] in oþer þinges.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2748 : If thow be right happy, that is to seyn, if thow be right riche, thow shalt funde a greet nombre of felawes and freendes.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1339 : Þe world prayses nan bot þa anly Þat til alle worldes welthes er happy.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)226 : Happy: Fortunatus.
- (1445) ?Bokenham Claudian CS (Add 11814)265/83,84 : Happy thou art in such prynce, which now thi son lawe is; More happy yit forsothe is he by the his fadir lawe.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1757 : Let us be holden..happy unto love.
- c1450 Metham Days Moon (Gar 141)150/5 : He that ys born that day schuld be happy to goode, bolde, hardy, and wyse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)270/35 : For than they be nat happy nother fortunate unto the werrys.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)389 : He..Chaffared faste and wanne mekille, for he was happy and wanne faste.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2870 : Wel happy and blessed been they that louen and purchacen pees, for they been called children of god.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)648 : Happi is he that maketh yn heuene his feste.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)130/36 : In qwhilk [grace] to vs is kept a Ioyfull hap & happy ioy, a glorius endlesnes & euerlastyng ioy.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)226 : Happy, in goodnesse: Felix.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)311 : Happy had þis riche mane bene and wyselyere had he wroghte, & he wolde hafe done after Salamone rede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11217 : Hit is said oft-sithes..He is happy þat a harme hastely amendes.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.47 : A chyld..was a propyr lad, And ryght ane happy hynd.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)60a : Happy: Beatus..felix.
2.
(a) Of an event, action: lucky, turning out well; of a season, prognostic: favorable, propitious; (b) apt, skillful, dexterous, felicitous.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.367 : After that a man poursuieth To love, so fortune suieth Fulofte and yifth hire happi chance To him.
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)393 : Yit was þat synne [of Eve] happy to man-kynde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6257 : Agamenoun hath take His happy weye schipped for to be.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1179 : To reioishe..ȝif happi were his chaunce.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1334 : Continuel happy commyng Of worldly gudes es a takenyng Of þe dampnacion þat sal be.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)3505 : He was happy to gammys sere, of beste of wode, of fowels of riuer.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)4677 : Depe selers..þorou his awen happy [Vsp: scel-wis; Göt: witti] rede, he [Joseph] filled wiþ wine.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1741 : Than this doughtty duke dubbyd his knyghttez..Howell and Hardelfe, happy in armez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3878 : This was sir Gawayne the gude..hardyeste of hande, happyeste in armes.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.47 : A chyld he had The wyche was a propyr lad, And ryght ane happy [vr. hasty] hynd.
3.
As adverb: with luck, fortunately.
Associated quotations
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1382 : Whan that the stordy ook, On which men hakketh ofte..Receyved hath the happy fallyng strook, The greete sweigh doth it come al at ones.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3627 : Hit shalbe hevi & harde, & happi vnlike Þat any frigies vs fere, or to flete dryue.