Middle English Dictionary Entry
unhappī̆lī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | unhappī̆lī adv. Also onhappili. |
| Etymology | From happī̆lī adv. or unhappī adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unfortunately; unluckily;
(b) wretchedly;
(c) mistakenly; foolishly, unwisely.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6298 : Wher-of to hem ful vnhappily It be-fil whan þei þe Grekis mette…Eche on oþer manhod for to schewe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.666 : Right so fare I, unhappyly for me; I love oon best, and that me smerteth sore.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.937 : He was slayn, allas the more harm is, Unhappily at Thebes…Polymyte and many a man to scathe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1901 : Herodes hath his sone sent ageyn, Which anon aftir…Amyd the feeld vnhappili was slayn.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)303/21 : God wolde…that ye wolde putte hym from me, other to sle hym and ye may, for he is an unhappy knave, and unhappyly he hath done this day thorow myssehappe, for I saw hym sle two knyghtes…and other dedis he ded…thorow unhappynesse.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1489 : Achilles axeþ how it is Amonge Grekis, & clerly how it stood…‘Certis,’ quod he, ‘ful vnhappily.’
c
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)73/2 : He shal comyn into erthe and iuge the world, but this wot not the Cristen men but trowyn onhappily [L insipienter] that they crucifiedyn Iesu Crist.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)81/15 : Vnhappily [L insipienter] hast thow askyd, for myn body myghtist thow not haue because that I am not erthely but spiritual.