what does hapless mean
What does this sentence mean? When the hapless contestant is fired at the end of Apprentice, it is usually because he has failed as a project manager. Does hapless mean: a. Unhappy b. Unlucky c. Ineffectual Answer: b. Explanation: Hapless means unlucky, unfortunate, pitiable. The word hap comes from late middle English, which comes from Old Norse, the language of Viking invaders. Middle English hap and old Norse happ both mean good fortune, so haplessness is the lack of same. For example: In 793, Vikings began raids on the hapless Saxons. Hereâs an interesting thread on the etymology of hapless. Hereâs more on the Viking invasions. Follow me on Twitter @tao_of_grammar. Comment RSS Feed Email a friend