happily

From happy +‎ -ly.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈha.pə.li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈhæ.pə.li/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

happily (comparative more happily, superlative most happily)

1. (archaic) By chance; perhaps.

   Synonym: haply

   • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     And who knoweth whether a thousand yeares hence a third opinion will rise, which happily shall overthrow these two precedents?

2. By good chance; fortunately, successfully.
3. In a happy or cheerful manner; with happiness.
   • 1808, Daniel Defoe, The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Minerva Press for Lane and Newman, page 311:

     And thus I have given the first part of a life of fortune and adventure, a life of Providence's chequer-work, and of a variety which the world will seldom be able to shew the like of: beginning foolishly, but closing much more happily than any part of it ever gave me leave so much as to hope for.

4. With good will; in all happiness; willingly.