Part 709

All happed with flowers in the green wood were.

Hogg.

Hap"pen (hp"p'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Happened (-p'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Happening.] [OE. happenen, hapnen. See Hap to happen.] 1. To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out.

There shall no evil happen to the just.

Prov. xii. 21.

2. To take place; to occur.

All these things which had happened.

Luke xxiv. 14.

To happen on, to meet with; to fall or light upon. "I have happened on some other accounts." Graunt. -- To happen in, to make a casual call. [Colloq.]

Hap"pi*ly (hp"p*l), adv. [From Happy.] 1. By chance; peradventure; haply. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. By good fortune; fortunately; luckily.

Preferred by conquest, happily o'erthrown.

Waller.

3. In a happy manner or state; in happy circumstances; as, he lived happily with his wife.

4. With address or dexterity; gracefully; felicitously; in a manner to insure success; with success.

Formed by thy converse, happily to steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe.

Pope.

Syn. -- Fortunately; luckily; successfully; prosperously; contentedly; dexterously; felicitously.

Hap"pi*ness, n. [From Happy.] 1. Good luck; good fortune; prosperity.

All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!

Shak.

2. An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended with enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness.

3. Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of language.

Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's a happiness, as well as care.

Pope.

Syn. -- Happiness, Felicity, Blessedness, Bliss. Happiness is generic, and is applied to almost every kind of enjoyment except that of the animal appetites; felicity is a more formal word, and is used more sparingly in the same general sense, but with elevated associations; blessedness is applied to the most refined enjoyment arising from the purest social, benevolent, and religious affections; bliss denotes still more exalted delight, and is applied more appropriately to the joy anticipated in heaven.

O happiness! our being's end and aim!

Pope.