Haplessness
/ˈhæp.ləs.nəs/noun
The state of being unfortunate or unlucky.
Did you know?The word 'hap' is rooted in old terms for luck and fortune, hinting at a time when misfortune was believed to be a divine punishment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰap-
“to grasp or seize, implying fate or fortune.”
Old English
Old English
hæp
“luck, fortune, or chance.”
Middle English
Middle English
hap
“an occurrence or event, often tied to fortune.”
15th Century
Middle English
hapless
“unfortunate, lacking good fortune.”
Modern English
Modern English
haplessness
“the quality of being hapless or unfortunate.”