unhappyadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈhapi/, U.S. /ˌənˈhæpi/ 1. † b. Scottish. Ill-natured; bad-tempered. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of persons (or animals): Causing misfortune or trouble (to oneself or others); objectionable or miserable on this account.To some extent passing into sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > attended by or causing affliction
eileOE
soreOE
unselec1050
evilc1175
derfa1225
stourc1275
feeble1297
illa1325
fella1400
unhappya1400
unwealful1412
importunea1425
noisomea1450
shrewd1482
importunable?c1485
importunate1490
funestal1538
nippingc1550
troublesome1552
pinching1563
grievesome1568
afflicting1573
afflictive1576
pressing1591
lacerating1609
funest1636
funestous1641
gravaminous1659
unkind1682
plightful1721
damning1798
acanthocladous1858
damnatory1858
fraught1966
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > wretchedness > wretch > [adjective]
unhappya1400
miserable?c1422
single-soled1588
ingenerous1635
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3637 Ful lath me ware, þat he þat blissing fra þe bare, Vnhappi wreche has he ben ai.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vii. vii. 221 He is an vnhappy knaue, and vnhappely he hath donne this day thorou myshappe.
c1480 (a1400) St. John Baptist 736 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 244 For cowaitise a man, vnhappy & wnwyse, dalf vpe his graf be nichtirtale.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) viii. 194 Lete vs goo assaylle thise vnhappy folke of the kynge Charlemagne.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Diiiiv I haue brought Unto magnyfyce a full vngracyous sorte For all hokes vnhappy to me haue resorte.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 b An vnhappie souldier of Prouence..declared vnto the Turkes the weakest places of the castle.
1607 G. Wilkins Miseries Inforst Mariage K 1 I am sure they are greater sinners, That made this match, and were vnhappy men, For they caus'd all, and may heauen pardon them.
1624 A. Darcie tr. P. Du Moulin Heraclitus 41 There is nothing more hard to find in this world than a good woman, a good Mule, and a good Goat, being three vnhappie beasts.
a1625 J. Fletcher Valentinian v. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ccccccc3v/2 Lycin. He is poysond... Lyc. Who? Lycin. The wretch Aretus, That most unhappy villaine.
1770 Harris in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 192 He was an unhappy sot, and last week shot himself through the head.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth x, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 262 These unhappy Highland clans are again breaking into general commotion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill-naturedness > [adjective]
stour1303
thwarta1325
elvishc1386
wrawc1386
wrawfulc1386
crabbeda1400
crousea1400
cursedc1400
doggeda1425
currishc1460
disagreeable1474
dour1488
thrawn1488
terne?1507
apirsmarta1522
crustyc1570
incommodious1570
bilious1571
mischievous-stomached1577
thrawn-faced1578
thrawn-mowit1578
wearisha1586
shrewish1596
rhubarbative1600
crabbish1606
ill-tempereda1616
cur-like1627
thrawn-faceda1628
terned1638
cross1639
splenial1641
frumpish1647
wry1649
bad-tempered1671
hot-tempered1673
sidy1673
ugly1687
ornery1692
cankerya1699
ramgunshoch1721
cantankerousc1736
frumpy1746
unhappy1756
grumpy1778
crabby1791
grumpish1797
thraw-gabbit18..
snarlish1813
cranky1821
stuntya1825
ill-natured1825
nattery1825
rantankerous1832
foul-tempered1835
cacochymical1836
as cross as two sticks1842
grumphy1846
knappy1855
carnaptious1858
cussed1858
three-cornered1863
snotty1870
sniffy1871
snorty1893
grouchy1895
scratchy1925
tight1950
stroppy1951
snitty1978
arsey1989
1756 M. Calderwood Lett. & Jrnls. (1884) ii. 47 Indeed he was so unhappy, (which signifies ill-nature in Scots,) that she durst never ask anything at him he was not pleased to tell her.
2. absolute.1647 A. Cowley Sleep in Mistress iv Thou scorn'st th' Unhappy; and the Happy, Thee.1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. i. 12 Pity the unhappy, said a devout, venerable, hoary-headed man.1839 T. Carlyle Chartism viii. 73 A tear at least is due to the unhappy.
a. Of persons: Unfortunate, unlucky, ill-fated; miserable in lot or circumstances. Also, in later use, wretched in mind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > miserable or wretched
un-i-selieOE
drearyOE
unseelyOE
wretcha1122
usellc1175
unselea1200
wretcheda1200
misease?c1225
un-i-sele?c1250
wanlichec1275
miseasyc1300
wrackfulc1311
unblessed1340
wretchfula1382
wretchedful1382
caitiff1393
loddera1400
unhappena1400
pilledc1400
miserable?c1422
vengeablec1430
unhappyc1440
meschant?1473
miserousc1475
unselc1480
miser1542
forlorn1582
villainous1582
skybala1585
unblestful1608
despicable1635
haveless1868
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > suffering misfortune
feyOE
unseelyOE
wanspeedyc1000
unselea1200
unblessed1340
unhappena1400
unhappyc1440
misfortuneda1500
unfortunate1530
unlucky1542
misdight1607
unblestful1608
inominal1656
unprovidenceda1661
unfortunable1729
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 365/2 On-happy, infortunatus, infelix.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vi. x. 198 Who that vseth peramours shalle be vnhappy, and all thyng is vnhappy that is aboute hem.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 291 Bot he the mar be wnhappy, He sall eschew it in party.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlviii He is an vnhappy man: that god..putteth hym in chose, and he to chose the worst parte.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 2689 A! nobill Troye, þe noy þat neghis þe at hond!.. A! vnhappy hegh kyng, what hardship is to the!
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xvi. 295 The most parte..come to this point, that man is the most vnhappiest of liuing wights.
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. ii. 70 This unhappie king beeing utterly driuen to dispayre,..in the night time road foorth of the citie.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 86 Endless it were to reckon up the indignities offered unto these Jews... A people equally unhappy at feasts, and at frays.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. viii. 148 The Seamen might conjecture some unhappy Mortal to be shut up in the Box.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. ii. 43 Some unhappy person, who, having been plundered by his banditti, was brought hither a captive.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 432 In the midst of this splendour,..the unhappy woman gave herself up to an agony of grief.
1900 Longman's Mag. Mar. 450 He fully agreed that her mother must not be made unhappy.
b. Const. in (some respect).
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iv. 100 Sure there's some wonder in this handkercher, I am most vnhappy in the losse. View more context for this quotation
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 221 Vnhappiest in this, that their owne Nation forgot them quite.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 164. ¶1 Constantia was..very unhappy in a Father, who..took Delight in nothing but his Money.
1770 Harris in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 201 They have been unhappy in another fire at Wilton.
c. Unsuccessful; apt to make mistakes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > awkward or inept
unrekena1325
untoward1557
unfeatya1586
unhappy1651
ungaina1657
unadept1830
jackleg1833
jack-legged1839
inapt1860
inadept1875
unpractical1890
raunchy1937
stumblebum1940
ham1941
1651 R. Wittie tr. J. Primrose Pop. Errours i. 45 I have observed that no man is more unhappy than those physicians, that note their medicines out of books.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. iii. §9 He is as unhappy a person in Philology, as any that have pretended so much acquaintance with it.
1711 Mrs. Long Let. to Swift 18 Nov. That I may clear my meanings, which are always far from offending my friends, however unhappy I may be in my expressions.
d. Of places: Subject to, suffering from, misfortunes or evils.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > attended by or causing affliction > specifically of places
unhappy1591
trouble-haunted1815
1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Time in Complaints 146 Seemes, that that gentle Riuer..From my vnhappie neighborhood farre fled.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 268 Wherefore..call [we] them not to share with us their part In this unhappy Mansion..? View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 80 And such a Country could Acerra boast, Till Clanius overflow'd th' unhappy Coast. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 145 Th' unhappy Climes, where Spring was never known. View more context for this quotation
1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. iv. 92 You!—have you ventured to our unhappy house?
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 498 The bands which oppressed and wasted these unhappy districts.
3.
a. Of things: Associated with, bringing about or causing, misfortune or mishap; disastrous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > calamitous or disastrous
unholda1350
blacka1387
unhappyc1386
mischievousc1390
mischieffula1400
tragicalc1525
tragic1533
calamitous1545
mistempered1570
disadventurous1590
ominous1594
dismal1599
disastrous1601
ill-starredc1704
disventurousa1739
catastrophal1842
c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 204 Infortunat ascendent tortuous,..O fieble Moone, vnhappy been thy paas.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 236 Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 326 At thilke unhappi freisshe welle.
1420–2 J. Lydgate Story of Thebes i. 821 Of whom the weddyng..Vnhappy was and passing odious, Infortuned and vngracious.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ii. xviii. 97 Thenne Balyn smote hym ageyne with that vnhappy swerd.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccxl. 216/2 This vnhappy wether for the englisshmen fell well for them in the cyte.
1607 Merrie Iests George Peele 14 The Gentle~man was..disturbed in thought at this unhappy accident.
1652 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi Exact Hist. Late Revol. Naples (new ed.) ii. 142 An unhappy Bullet came and killed one of the principall of the Black~coats that was in Arms.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 125. ¶7 It is very unhappy for a Man to be born in such a stormy and tempestuous Season.
1796 F. Burney Camilla III. v. ii. 18 I am shocked to find you informed of this unhappy transaction.
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott III. iii. 110 His friend was aware that he had an unhappy propensity to drinking.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. lxiii. 304 An unhappy and accidental collision between the jealous cohorts led to a battle.
b. Inauspicious; foreboding evil.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > inauspicious
perilousc1390
unlucky1519
unchancy1533
unhappy1533
infortunate1548
sinistrous?c1550
luckless1584
dismal1588
ominous1589
fatal1590
bad-bodinga1592
disastrous1598
inauspicious1599
black1604
naught1620
inauspicate1632
infaustous1656
infaust1658
ill-omened1685
black boding1743
wanchancy1768
oracular1820
inominous1832
widdershins1926
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. viii. 47 Numa schewe in his Calendar sic dayis as wer happy and sic dayis as war unhappy.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vi. sig. R8 Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappy starre.
1638 W. Rawley tr. F. Bacon Hist. Nat. & Exper. Life & Death 67 The Black-Bird is reported to be..one of the longest livers: An unhappy Bird, and a good Singer.
1814 R. Southey Roderick vi. 90 The spurious race Whom in unhappy hour Favila's wife Brought forth for Spain.
c. Infelicitous; unsuccessful.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > awkward or inept > specifically of actions, etc.
unhappy1721
unfelicitous1827
unadroit1841
1721 J. Swift Let. to Young Gentleman 5 Neither is it rare to observe among excellent..Divines, a certain ungratious Manner, or an unhappy Tone of Voice.
1779 S. Johnson Rochester in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets. IV. 10 His imitation of Horace on Lucilius is not inelegant or unhappy.
4. Of conditions: Marked by misfortune or mishap; miserable, wretched.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective]
unseelyOE
ungraciousa1387
infortunatec1390
unhappy1390
haplessa1400
mischancefula1400
unfortunedc1403
infortuneda1413
maleurousa1460
infortunable?a1475
mal-infortunedc1475
unselc1480
mischanced1488
misadventurousa1500
unhap1509
misfortunate1510
mischancya1522
unuredc1525
maleureda1529
unlucky1530
unfortunate1548
luckless1563
unluckly1564
unfortunable1567
untoward1570
unable?1572
sinister1576
unsonsy1578
disaster1584
disastereda1586
disastrous1586
unweirdedc1590
wanhappy?1590
misbefallen1591
fortuneless1596
infelicious1598
misadventured1599
improsperous1602
untoward1632
unhandsome1640
ill-fated1715
donsie?1719
swarthy1756
infelicitous1835
bad luck1872
stiff1919
spooked1937
jinxed1972
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 59 Helas, that evere was I bore, That his unhappi destine So wofulli comth in be me!
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. viii In the vnhappy and Infortunat tyme men ought not to be despayred.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xvi. 68 Sayeng to him, my chance and desteny Of al other is the moste unhappy.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xv. 16 The end of his moste vnhappye life.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xxvii. 146 Through hunger [he] was..to die an vnhappie death.
1600 N. Breton Pasquils Mad-cap D 3 b If they be met with in their going home, I can not pitty their vnhappy speede.
1712 R. Blackmore Creation iii. 128 You oft declaim on Man's unhappy Fate.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. v. 96 Her mind deeply impressed with the unhappy fate of this object, she forgot all her faults.
1838 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation (1863) 13 I have never been among them to judge what faculties their unhappy social position leaves to them un~impaired.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 30 Life thus owned unhappy, is there supplemental happiness..in life to come?
a. Causing or involving trouble or mischief; objectionable, evil; naughty. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious
litherc893
scathefulc900
orneOE
teenfulOE
atterlichc1050
evilc1175
wicka1250
scathela1300
deringa1325
unkindc1330
harmfula1340
ill1340
wicked1340
shrewdc1380
noisomea1382
venomed1382
noyfulc1384
damageousc1386
infectivea1398
unwholesomea1400
annoying?c1400
mischievous1414
damnablec1420
contagiousc1430
mischievable?a1439
damagefulc1449
damageable1474
unhappy1474
nuisable1483
nocible1490
nuisible1490
nuisant1494
noxiousa1500
nocent?c1500
hurtful1526
sinistral1534
nocive1538
offendent1547
offensivea1548
dangerous1548
naughtya1555
dispendious1557
offensible1575
wrackful1578
baneful1579
hindersome1580
scandalizing1593
damnifiable1604
taking1608
toadish1611
illful1613
nocivousc1616
mischieving1621
nocuous1627
obnoxious1638
nocumentous1644
vicious1656
nocumental1657
abnoxious1680
dungeonable1691
offending1694
hurtsomea1699
nociferous1706
sinister1726
damnific1727
hazardous1748
slaughtering1811
damaging1856
damnous1870
lethal1942
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > [adjective]
unhappy1474
sinistral1534
1474 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 480 Wherffor I sende yow herwyth yowre rynge and the onhappy muskeball.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 259/2 Moreouer the vnhappy dedes of yt sect must nedes be imputed to the sect selfe.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xvii. 102 They are also full of diuers vnhappy vices.
a1618 W. Raleigh Remains (1664) 110 The world..never gave you but an unhappy welcome—a hurtful entertainment.
1678 R. Cudworth tr. Chrysippus in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 420 It seems to be but like to Womens frighting of Children from doing unhappy tricks.
ΚΠ
1765 Museum Rusticum 4 xxviii. 125 A very proper grass to cultivate on such unhappy soils, where hardly any other grass..will grow at all.
Compounds
unhappy-faced, unhappy-happy, unhappy-looking, unhappy-witted adjs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective] > of the appearance or face
louring13..
sada1375
frowningc1386
fluishc1460
Lentena1500
glumming1526
Friday-faced1583
becloudeda1586
gash1589
dark1593
mumping1594
hanging1607
fiddle-facedc1785
murky1830
unsunned1838
thought-ladena1847
unsunny1859
unhappy-looking1863
unhappy-faced1876
boot-faced1958
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 49 For both were craftie and vnhappie witted.
a1618 J. Sylvester Funeral Elegie Dr. Hill's Wife 185 (Her first and last) unhappy-happy Boy, Which cost her life.
1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 378 An odd unhappy-looking springbuck or two.
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda II. iv. xxviii. 197 That unhappy-faced woman.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† unhappyv.
Obsolete.
transitive. To make unhappy or unfortunate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > misery > render miserable [verb (transitive)]
discomforta1398
wretcha1513
desolate1530
disconsolate1530
distress1586
unhappy1597
uncomfort1637
infelicitate1654
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. i. 10 You haue misled a Prince,..A happy Gentleman in bloud and lineaments, By you vnhappied, and disfigured cleane. View more context for this quotation
1605 J. Sylvester tr. O. de la Noue Profit of Imprisonm. in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. 410 In our selues doth rest That which vnhappieth vs, and that which makes vs blest.
1653 E. Lloyd Let. 28 July (Ashm.) I admire you..should for any By-end vnhappie your selfe and stepdame your children.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.c1386
v.1597