happiness

plural happinesses · alternative obsolete happinesse · alternative obsolete happyness

1. uncountableThe emotion of being happy; joy; elation.

   seek happiness

   5 more examples

   true happiness

   bring happiness to others

   Money can’t buy happiness.

   She found happiness in the small things.

   Yes, Aline, true happiness comes of true love, and true love should be independent of external influences.

   1877, W. S. Gilbert, The Sorcerer

   Synonyms: felicity, high spirits · Antonyms: haplessness, unhappiness, blueness, tristesse, mirthlessness, blues, crestfallenness, dejection

2. archaicuncountableProsperity, thriving, wellbeing.

   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

   Antonyms: suffering

3. archaicuncountableGood luck; good fortune.

   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

   Synonyms: felicity, fortuity, felicity, fortune, fortuitousness, fortuity, good cess, good fortune

4. countableobsoleteFortuitous elegance; unstudied grace, used especially of language.

   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