Etymology

Formed with negative prefix on the adj. happy, itself formed within English on hap (n.).

PGmc Ancestor

*xap(p)- 

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

cp. happ (n.) ‘good luck, chance’; cp. óhapp (n.) ‘bad fortune’
(ONP happ (sb.); cp. óhapp (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

cp. gehæp and gehæplic (adj.) ‘fit, convenient, opportune'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

C1

Attestation

Widespread from the late 14c., incl. Chaucer, Lydgate and Gower

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 713, 1375, 4482

Bibliography

MED unhappī (adj.) , OED3 unhappy (adj.) , HTOED ; see further hap (n.).