unhappily

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word unhappily. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word unhappily, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say unhappily in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word unhappily you have here. The definition of the word unhappily will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofunhappily, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From Middle English onhappily, unhappili, unhappily, unhappyly; equivalent to un- +‎ happily or unhappy +‎ -ly.[1][2]

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US):(file)

Adverb

unhappily (comparative more unhappily, superlative most unhappily)

  1. Unfortunately; regrettably.
    • 1961 November, H. G. Ellison, P. G. Barlow, “Journey through France: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 668:
      The line to Dunières consists of a series of breakneck descents almost invariably ended by a violent curve and followed immediately by a panting climb, on which the engine barked thunderously but failed unhappily to maintain its booked speed of 13 m.p.h.
    • 2012, Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, Penguin, published 2013, page 76:
      Theodore Roosevelt […] added, perhaps unhappily, that he believed the US administration in the Philippines could learn a lot from the Austrian example.
  2. Through evil fate or chance; wretchedly.
  3. Without happiness; sadly.

Antonyms

References

  1. ^ “unhappī̆lī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ^ “unhappily, adv.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia