different between happily vs unhappily

English

Etymology

From Middle English happily, happyly, happyliche, happylyche, equivalent to happy +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ha.p?.li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?hæ.p?.li/

Adverb

happily (comparative more happily, superlative most happily)

1. (archaic) By chance; perhaps.

   Synonym: haply
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.

Translations

English

Etymology

From unhappy +? -ly.

Pronunciation

Adverb

unhappily (comparative more unhappily, superlative most unhappily)

1. Unfortunately; regrettably.
   • 2012, Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, Penguin 2013, p. 76:

     Theodore Roosevelt […] added, perhaps unhappily, that he believed the US administration in the Philippines could learn a lot from the Austrian example.

2. Through evil fate or chance; wretchedly.
3. Without happiness; sadly.

Antonyms

• happily