Happiness
/ˈhæp.i.nəs/noun
A state of well-being and contentment.
Did you know?The Old English root of 'happiness' is linked to the concept of luck and fortune, suggesting our joy is deeply tied to fate!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰap-
“to grasp or seize, related to fortune.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
hæpp
“luck, fortune, or chance.”
Middle English
Middle English
hapinesse
“good fortune or luck.”
Early Modern English
Early Modern English
happiness
“the quality or state of being happy.”
Modern English
English
happiness
“a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.”