Tuesday, September 23, 2014

happily, haply

Happily or happily describes an action done in a cheerful or happy manner--
The dog wags his tail happily when he sees us coming home.
"We're having ice cream after dinner!" he shouted happily.

Happily may also describe a fortunate or lucky occurrence or turn of events--
Happily, the concert we couldn't attend was cancelled. We'll be there when it's rescheduled.
Happily, no one noticed the error, and he had time to correct it.

Haply or haply is an old-fashioned word meaning perhaps or by chance--
"Haply I may remember, And haply may forget."
If you're visiting New York, haply you'll meet some of our long-lost relations.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Haply we'll meet again, and happily, instead of at a funeral."

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