A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1598
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Happy, a. Also: hap(p)ie. [Northern ME. happy (1340), f. Hap n.]
l. Blessed with good fortune; lucky, fortunate, successful.1375 Barb. i. 121.
Wys men sayis he is happy That be othir will him chasty c1420 Wynt. iv. 2572.
Sa happy als he wes in deyd That all thyng at his lykyng yheid 1456 Hay I. 81/3.
He that is nocht in the grace of God sall nocht be hardy in bataill na happy c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 376.
Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanle 1513 Doug. i. vii. 36.
O, quod Ene, full happy ar ȝhe in deid, Quhais large wallis rysys thus on hie 1535 Stewart II. 552 heading.
How Kenethus wan the feild be the greit help of that happie Hay 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/27.
Peraduenture he [Origen] wes litle happy be his scoleris 1567 Satirical Poems iv. 24.
Than was I thocht happy into menis sycht a1578 Pitsc. I. 18/30.
The hardiest man [is nocht] maist happie a1598 Ferg. Prov. 8 b.
Happie man, happie cavil
b. Fortunate in talents or gifts; gifted.1562-3 Winȝet I. 24/34.
Thair wes sumtyme submittit to my techement … humane childer of happy ingynis
2. Bringing or involving good fortune; fortunate, favourable; propitious.c1420 Wynt. iv. 414.
Before that day on nakyn wys Yhe suld yhoure fortoun happy pryis c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 1232.
Scotland may thank the blyssyt happy tym At he was born 1513 Doug. i. vi. 43.
Quhidder thou be Dyane … , beis to ws happy and kynd 1513 Ib. xi. 76. 1513 Ib. iii. i. 69.
Besekyng this avisioun worth happy 1531 Bell. Boece I. iii.
The beginning of Scottis … , thair happy cuming out of Egipt to … the Ilis of Albion 1533 Id. Livy II. 246.
Numa schew in his kalendare sic days as war happy and sic days as war … vnhappy a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xvii. 3.
With manheid and be happy chance a1578 Pitsc. I. 75/9.
Follow me thairfoir and ȝe sall sie how hapie it is to put ȝour lyffis in perell 1596 Dalr. I. 77/31.
A happie and gret successe of al things
3. Occurring by good luck, lucky.1513 Doug. v. Prol. 3.
The wery hunter to fynd his happy pray
