happily

adv

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

1. In a happy or cheerful manner; with happiness.

   “This time next month I’ll be happily fishing at the beach.”

   “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.”

2. By good chance; fortunately, successfully.

   “Watt wore, on his feet, a boot, brown in colour, and a shoe, happily of a brownish colour also.”

3. With good will; in all happiness; willingly.

   “I will happily help you look for your lost wallet.”

4. By chance; perhaps.

   “And who knoweth whether a thousand yeares hence a third opinion will rise, which happily shall overthrow these two precedents?”