Definition
nounThe emotion of being happy; joy; elation.
nounProsperity, thriving, wellbeing.
Sentence Examples
My heart was filled with happiness.
The only way on Earth to multiply happiness is to divide it.
We all desire health and happiness.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *kob-der.
Proto-Germanic *hampą
Old Norse happbor.
Middle English hap
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Germanic *-gaz
Proto-West Germanic *-g
Old English -iġ
Middle English -y
Middle English happy
English happy
Proto-Germanic *-in-
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-Germanic *-inōną
Proto-Indo-European *-dyé-
Proto-Germanic *-atjaną
Proto-Indo-European *-tus
Proto-Germanic *-þuz
Proto-Germanic *-assuz
Proto-Germanic *-inassuz
Proto-West Germanic *-nassī
Old English -nes
Middle English -nesse
English -ness
English happiness
From happy + -ness.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Yes, Aline, true happiness comes of true love, and true love should be independent of external influences."
— 1877, W. S. Gilbert, The Sorcerer:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
— 1776, United States Declaration of Independence:
"All happineſſe bechance to thee in Millaine."
— c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 20, column 2:
"Some Beauties yet, no Precepts can declare, / For there's a Happineſs as well as Care."
— 1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 10: