from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Happy \Hap"py\ (h[a^]p"p[y^]), a. [Compar. {Happier}
(-p[i^]*[~e]r); superl. {Happiest}.] [From {Hap} chance.]
1. Favored by hap, luck, or fortune; lucky; fortunate;
successful; prosperous; satisfying desire; as, a happy
expedient; a happy effort; a happy venture; a happy omen.
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Chymists have been more happy in finding experiments
than the causes of them. --Boyle.
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2. Experiencing the effect of favorable fortune; having the
feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being or of
enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, as peace,
tranquillity, comfort; contented; joyous; as, happy hours,
happy thoughts.
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Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. --Ps.
cxliv. 15.
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The learned is happy Nature to explore,
The fool is happy that he knows no more. --Pope.
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3. Dexterous; ready; apt; felicitous.
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One gentleman is happy at a reply, another excels in
a in a rejoinder. --Swift.
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{Happy family}, a collection of animals of different and
hostile propensities living peaceably together in one
cage. Used ironically of conventional alliances of persons
who are in fact mutually repugnant.
{Happy-go-lucky}, trusting to hap or luck; improvident;
easy-going. "Happy-go-lucky carelessness." --W. Black.
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