happiness, n.
a. Good fortune or good luck in life generally or in a particular affair; success, prosperity. Now rare.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 2a.In later use chiefly in to have the happiness to : to be fortunate enough or have the privilege to (do something).
?1473—1972(Hide quotations)
b. An instance or cause of good fortune. Frequently in plural (in later use often as part of a stylized formula for wishing good fortune).Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 2b.
1540—1994(Hide quotations)
a. The state of pleasurable contentment of mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one's circumstances.the greatest happiness of the greatest number: see greatest adj., n., and adv. Phrases a.
a1500—2012(Hide quotations)
b. An instance or source of pleasure or contentment.
1637—1996(Hide quotations)
3. Successful or felicitous aptitude, fitness, suitability, or appropriateness; felicity. Also: an instance of this. Now rare.
1550—1926(Hide quotations)
Phrases
happiness is —— : used to express that contentedness is achieved by means of the stated item, experience, situation, etc.
1960—2004(Hide quotations)
Compounds
General attributive, esp. with reference to measuring the level of contentment of a person or group of people, as happiness index, happiness level, etc.
1912—2012(Hide quotations)