happily ever after
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈhæpɪli ˌɛvəɹ‿ˈɑːftə/
ipa: /-ˈæf-/
ipa: /ˈhæpəli ˌɛvəɹ‿ˈæftəɹ/
rhymes: -ɑːftə(ɹ)
rhymes: -æftə(ɹ)
Forms: form: happily ever afters
form: happily-ever-after
Etymology: The adverb is derived from happily (adverb) + ever after (adverb), used as a formulaic ending in works for children especially since the 19th century. The noun is derived from the adverb.
Senses: examples: text: But this is 1979: marriage once again is on a lot of minds and romantic comedies, complete with tradition and happily-ever-afters, are back in style.
ref: 1979 January, “Marriage ’79: Sara & Ted”, in Edith Raymond Locke, editor, Mademoiselle, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 136, column 1:
topics: human-sciences
linguistics
narratology
sciences
synonyms: eucatastrophe
fairy-tale ending
happy ending
happy ever after
glosses: A story, or a conclusion to a story, in which all the loose ends of the plot are tied up, and all the main characters are left in a state of contentment or happiness.
examples: text: In the real world, there are no happily ever afters, no storybook endings. We must always fight intolerance and fanaticism.
ref: 1994 May 25, [Karen] Shepherd, “Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 103d Congress, Second Session (United States House of Representatives), volume 140, part 7, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 11905, column 1:
text: Disney CEO Robert Iger believes in happily-ever-afters. For two years, Disney's relationship with Pixar Animation Studios—creator of such blockbusters as "Finding Nemo" and "Toy Story"—was on the rocks, soured by an epic battle of wills between former Disney chief Michael Eisner and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs. But when Iger took over last year, he was determined to kiss and make up.
ref: 2006 January 9, David J. Jefferson, “An Incredible Marriage? Disney and Pixar’s CEO Steve Jobs Talk of Joining Forces”, in Newsweek, volume CXVII, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Newsweek, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 42:
text: The couple’s romance, captured with intimate closeups and accompanied by a jaunty Europop soundtrack, is rapturous. But Martin’s increasingly provocative ideas throw a wrench in Elena’s dreams of a happily-ever-after.
ref: 2020 October 13, Beatrice Loayza, “Jack London gets an Italian makeover in the tragic and romantic Martin Eden”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 05 Jul 2022:
text: As a water sign, Cancers are deeply sensitive. They long to give and receive love, and they frequently find themselves always fantasizing about their "happily-ever-after."
ref: 2020 November 6, Kyle Thomas, “Your Cosmic Love Triangle, by Zodiac Sign”, in Cosmopolitan, New York, N.Y.: Hearst Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2023:
synonyms: fairy-tale ending
happy ever after
glosses: A happy period of time which is imagined never to end; specifically, the state of happiness in which one or more people (typically a loving couple) dwell for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives.
Related terms: fairytalelike
good ending
honeymoon period