'Happiness' definitions:
Definition of 'happiness'
(from WordNet)
noun
State of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy [syn: happiness, felicity] [ant: unhappiness]
noun
Emotions experienced when in a state of well-being [ant: sadness, unhappiness]
Definition of 'Happiness'
From: GCIDE
- Happiness \Hap"pi*ness\, n. [From Happy.]
- 1. Good luck; good fortune; prosperity. [1913 Webster]
- All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended with enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of language. [1913 Webster]
- Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's a happiness, as well as care. --Pope.
- Syn: Happiness, Felicity, Blessedness, Bliss.
- Usage: Happiness is generic, and is applied to almost every kind of enjoyment except that of the animal appetites; felicity is a more formal word, and is used more sparingly in the same general sense, but with elevated associations; blessedness is applied to the most refined enjoyment arising from the purest social, benevolent, and religious affections; bliss denotes still more exalted delight, and is applied more appropriately to the joy anticipated in heaven. [1913 Webster]
- O happiness! our being's end and aim! --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- Others in virtue place felicity, But virtue joined with riches and long life; In corporal pleasures he, and careless ease. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- His overthrow heaped happiness upon him; For then, and not till then, he felt himself, And found the blessedness of being little. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'happiness'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acceptance,
- affluence,
- appropriateness,
- beatification,
- beatitude,
- becomingness,
- bed of roses,
- bewitchment,
- blessedness,
- bliss,
- blissfulness,
- blitheness,
- blithesomeness,
- brightness,
- cheer,
- cheerfulness,
- cheeriness,
- cheery vein,
- civility,
- cloud nine,
- clover,
- comfort,
- composure,
- content,
- contentedness,
- contentment,
- decency,
- decorousness,
- decorum,
- delectation,
- delight,
- ease,
- easy circumstances,
- Easy Street,
- ecstasy,
- ecstatics,
- elation,
- enchantment,
- enjoyment,
- entire satisfaction,
- eupeptic mien,
- euphoria,
- exaltation,
- exhilaration,
- exuberance,
- felicity,
- fitness,
- fittingness,
- fleshpots,
- fulfillment,
- gaiety,
- geniality,
- genteelness,
- gentility,
- gladness,
- gladsomeness,
- glee,
- good cheer,
- gracious life,
- gracious living,
- heaven,
- high spirits,
- hopefulness,
- intoxication,
- jollity,
- joy,
- joyance,
- joyfulness,
- joyousness,
- jubilation,
- lap of luxury,
- life of ease,
- loaves and fishes,
- luxury,
- meetness,
- optimism,
- overhappiness,
- overjoyfulness,
- paradise,
- peace of mind,
- pleasantness,
- pleasure,
- properness,
- propriety,
- prosperity,
- prosperousness,
- radiance,
- rapture,
- ravishment,
- reconcilement,
- reconciliation,
- resignation,
- rightness,
- rosy expectation,
- sanguine humor,
- sanguineness,
- satisfaction,
- security,
- seemliness,
- seventh heaven,
- success,
- suitability,
- sunniness,
- sunshine,
- the affluent life,
- the good life,
- thriving condition,
- transport,
- unalloyed happiness,
- upward mobility,
- urbanity,
- velvet,
- weal,
- wealth,
- welfare,
- well-being,
- winsomeness