Happiness
/ˈhæp.ɪ.nəs/noun
A state of well-being and contentment.
Did you know?The word 'happiness' is derived from 'hap,' an Old English term meaning 'luck' or 'chance,' linking our joy to unpredictable fortune!
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
hæp
“Luck, chance, fortune.”
Middle English
Middle English
hapinesse
“Fortunate state of being; luck.”
Late Middle English
Middle English
hapynesse
“State of being happy, often connected to luck.”
Modern English
Modern English
happiness
“Condition of being happy, now more associated with emotional well-being.”