The word "unhappily" is spelled with "un-" prefix, which means "not" and "-ly" suffix, which means "in a manner of". The word consists of five syllables with the primary stress on the second syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /ʌnˈhæpɪli/. The 'u' is pronounced as /ʌ/ sound as in "cup", 'h' is /h/ sound as in "hat", 'a' is pronounced as the short /æ/ sound as in "cat", 'p' as /p/ sound as in "pen", and 'i' is pronounced as the short /i/ sound as in "bit".
"Unhappily" is an adverb that describes a state of being characterized by a lack of happiness or contentment. It refers to a feeling of dissatisfaction, sorrow, or misery, often resulting from unfortunate circumstances, unfavorable events, or unfulfilled desires.
When used in a personal context, "unhappily" signifies a sense of emotional distress or discontentment. It suggests a negative emotional state, indicating unhappiness, as opposed to joy or contentment. For instance, someone may be unhappily married, implying they are dissatisfied or unsatisfied within their marital relationship.
"Unhappily" can also highlight an unfavorable aspect or outcome when describing an action or situation. It highlights the absence of favorable or pleasant conditions. For example, one might say, "Unhappily, they were unable to make it to the party," indicating the unfortunate and disappointing circumstances that prevented their attendance.
In summary, "unhappily" describes a state of being marked by a lack of happiness or contentment and conveys a sense of distress, dissatisfaction, or sorrow. Its usage helps emphasize the negative aspects of a situation or person's emotional state, showcasing a general lack of well-being or unfortunate circumstances.
Unfortunately; miserably, &c.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "unhappily" is formed by adding the prefix "un-" to the word "happily".
The word "happily" comes from the Middle English word "hap", meaning "luck" or "fortune". This term has its roots in Old Norse "heppni", which also means "luck" but is derived from Old Norse "heppa", meaning "to happen or chance".
The addition of the prefix "un-" gives "unhappily" the meaning of lacking happiness, being unfortunate, or not having favorable circumstances.