[UN-1 7.]
1. Of persons (or animals): Causing misfortune or trouble (to oneself or others); objectionable or miserable on this account.
To some extent passing into sense 2.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3637. Ful lath me ware, Þat he þat blissing fra þe bare, Vnhappi wreche has he ben ai.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptista), 736. For cowaitise a man, vnhappy & wnwyse, dalf vpe his graf be nichtirtale.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. vii. 221. He is an vnhappy knaue, and vnhappely he hath donne this day thorou myshappe.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, viii. 194. Lete vs goo assaylle thise vnhappy folke of the kynge Charlemagne.
c. 1518. Skelton, Magnyf., 1374. I haue brought Vnto Magnyfycence a full vngracyous sorte, For all hokes vnhappy to me haue resorte.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xix. 22 b. An vnhappie souldier of Prouence … declared vnto the Turkes the weakest places of the castle.
1607. G. Wilkins, Miseries Enforced Marriage, K 1. I am sure they are greater sinners, That made this match, and were vnhappy men, For they caus’d all, and may heauen pardon them.
a. 1614. Fletcher, Valentinian, V. ii. Lici. He is poyson’d…. Lyci. Who? Lici. The wretch Aretus, That most unhappy villain.
1624. Darcie, trans. Du Moulin’s Heraclitus, vi. 41. There is nothing more hard to find in this world than a good woman, a good Mule, and a good Goat, being three vnhappie beasts.
1770. Harris, in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870), I. 192. He was an unhappy sot, and last week shot himself through the head.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, x. These unhappy Highland clans are again breaking into general commotion.
† b. Sc. ill-natured; bad-tempered. Obs.–1
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Cl.), 127. Indeed he was so unhappy, (which signifies ill-nature in Scots,) that she durst never ask anything at him he was not pleased to tell her.
2. Of persons: Unfortunate, unlucky, ill-fated; miserable in lot or circumstances. Also, in later use, wretched in mind.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 291. Bot he the mar be wnhappy, He sall eschew it in party.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2689. A! nobill Troye, þe noy þat neghis þe at hond!… A! vnhappy hegh kyng, what hardship is to the!
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 365/2. On-happy, infortunatus, infelix.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VI. x. 198. Who that vseth peramours shalle be vnhappy, and all thyng is vnhappy that is aboute hem.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 144. He is an vnhappy man or woman, that … woll chose the worst parte.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xvi. 295. The most parte … come to this point, that man is the most vnhappiest of liuing wights.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 70. This unhappie king beeing utterly driuen to dispayre,… in the night time road foorth of the citie.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. vi. § 40. 86. Endless it were to reckon up the indignities offered unto these Jews…. A people equally unhappy at feasts, and at frays.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. The seamen might conjecture some unhappy mortal to be shut up in the box.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxvii. Some unhappy person, who, having been plundered by his banditti, was brought hither a captive.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 432. In the midst of this splendour … the unhappy woman gave herself up to an agony of grief.
1900. Longm. Mag., March, 450. He fully agreed that her mother must not be made unhappy.
absol. 1647. Cowley, Mistr., Sleep, iv. Thou scorn’st th’ Unhappy; and the Happy, Thee.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, V. i. Pity the unhappy, said a devout, venerable, hoary-headed man.
1839. Carlyle, Chartism, viii. A tear at least is due to the unhappy.
b. Const. in (some respect).
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iv. 102. Sure, there’s some wonder in this Handkerchiefe, I am most vnhappy in the losse of it.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 221. Vnhappiest in this, that their owne Nation forgot them quite.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 164, ¶ 1. Constantia was … very unhappy in a Father, who … took delight in nothing but his Money.
1770. Harris, in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870), I. 201. They have been unhappy in another fire at Wilton.
c. Unsuccessful; apt to make mistakes.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., I. 45. I have observed that no man is more unhappy than those physicians, that note their medicines out of books.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, I. iii. § 9. He is as unhappy a person in Philology, as any that have pretended so much acquaintance with it.
1711. Mrs. Long, Lett. to Swift, 18 Nov. That I may clear my meanings, which are always far from offending my friends, however unhappy I may be in my expressions.
d. Of places: Subject to, suffering from, misfortunes or evils.
1591. Spenser, Ruins Time, 146. Seemes, that that gentle Riuer … From my vnhappie neighborhood farre fled.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 268. Wherefore … call [we] them not to share with us their part In this unhappy Mansion?
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 308. And such a country could Acerræ boast, Till Clanius overflowed the unhappy coast. Ibid., IV. 751. Th’ unhappy Climes, where Spring was never known.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. iv. 92. You!—have you ventured to our unhappy house?
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 498. The bands which oppressed and wasted these unhappy districts.
3. Of things: Associated with, bringing about or causing, misfortune or mishap; disastrous.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 204. Infortunat ascendent tortuous,… fieble Moone, vnhappy been thy paas.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 236. Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte. Ibid., 326. At thilke unhappi freisshe welle.
1420–2. Lydg., Thebes, I. 821. Of whom the weddyng … Vnhappy was and passing odious, Infortuned and vngracious.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xviii. 97. Thenne Balyn smote hym ageyne with that vnhappy swerd.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccxl. 216/2. This vnhappy wether for the englisshmen fell well for them in the cyte.
1607. Peele’s Jests, 14. The Gentleman was … disturbed in thought at this unhappy accident.
1652. Howell, Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, II. 142. An unhappy Bullet came and killed one of the principall of the Blackcoats that was in Arms.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 125, ¶ 7. It is very unhappy for a Man to be born in such a stormy and tempestuous Season.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 18. I am shocked to find you informed of this unhappy transaction.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, III. iii. 110. His friend was aware that he had an unhappy propensity to drinking.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lxiii. An unhappy and accidental collision between the jealous cohorts led to a battle.
b. Inauspicious; foreboding evil.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. viii. (S.T.S.), I. 47. Numa schewe in his Calendar sic dayis as wer happy and sic dayis as war unhappy.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vi. 44. Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappie starre.
1638. Rawley, trans. Bacon’s Life & Death (1650), 11. The Black-Bird is reported to be … one of the longest livers: An unhappy Bird, and a good singer.
1814. Southey, Roderick, VI. 90. The spurious race Whom in unhappy hour Favila’s wife Brought forth for Spain.
c. Infelicitous; unsuccessful.
1719. Swift, To Yng. Clergyman, Wks. 1755, II. II. 3. Neither is it rare to observe among excellent … divines a certain ungracious manner, or an unhappy tone of voice.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Rochester, Wks. II. 199. His imitation of Horace on Lucilius is not inelegant or unhappy.
4. Of conditions: Marked by misfortune or mishap; miserable, wretched.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 59. Helas, that evere was I bore, That this unhappi destine So wofulli comth in be me!
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. viii. In the vnhappy and Infortunat tyme men ought not to be despayred.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. (Percy Soc.), 68. Sayeng to him, my chance and desteny Of al other is the moste unhappy.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xv. 16 The end of his moste vnhappye life. Ibid., IV. xxvii. 146. Through hunger [he] was … to die an vnhappie death.
1600. Breton, Pasquil’s Madcappe, D 3 b. If they be met with in their going home, I can not pitty their vnhappy speede.
1712. Blackmore, Creation, III. 325. You oft declaim on man’s unhappy fate.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxx. Her mind deeply impressed with the unhappy fate of this object, she forgot all her faults.
1838. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia (1863), 13. I have never been among them to judge what faculties their unhappy social position leaves to them unimpaired.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 30. Life thus owned unhappy, is there supplemental happiness … in life to come?
† 5. Causing or involving trouble or mischief; objectionable, evil; naughty. Obs.
1474. Paston Lett., III. 12. Wherffor I sende yow herwith yowr rynge, and the onhappy muskeball.
1529. More, Dyaloge, IV. Wks. 259/2. Moreouer the vnhappy dedes of yt sect must nedes be imputed to the sect selfe.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xvii. 102. They are also full of diuers vnhappy vices.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Rem. (1664), 110. The world … never gave you but an unhappy welcome—a hurtful entertainment.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 420. It seems to be but like to Womens frighting of Children from doing unhappy tricks.
† b. Unfavorable, poor. Obs.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. xxviii. 125. A very proper grass to cultivate on such unhappy soils, where hardly any other grass … will grow at all.
6. Comb., as unhappy-destined, -eyed, -faced, -happy, -looking, -witted adjs.
1595. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 49. For both were craftie and vnhappie witted.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Funeral Elegie Dr. Hill’s Wife, 185. (Her first and last) unhappy-happy Boy, Which cost her life.
1723. Secret Hist. Burgundy, 284. She saw some armed Men flying to her assistance, who endeavour’d to reach the Scaffold, that they might bear away the unhappy destin’d Victims.
1776. Primitive Religion, etc., ii. 16. § 11. Such being the unhappy destined lot of Man and Brute.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ix. 378. An odd unhappy-looking springbuck or two.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., xxviii. That unhappy-faced woman.
1919. A. Stringer, The Man Who Couldn’t Sleep, x. 285. That unhappy-eyed youth had in some way got a grip, if not on my affection, at least on my interest.
