The term "hapless" is defined as "unlucky," contrary to common misconceptions that equate it with "incompetent." Forum participants assert that hapless individuals are often victims of circumstance, facing misfortunes beyond their control. The discussion highlights the etymology of "hap," derived from Old Norse, meaning good luck, which contrasts with the modern interpretation of hapless as ill-fated. The conversation also draws parallels with Yiddish terms like "schlemiel" and "schlimazel," emphasizing the nuanced understanding of misfortune.
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Definitely not incompetent. I would use it in the context of someone who is, by no fault of their own, in a difficult position; subject to the whims of fate; for whom things seem to turn out for the worse.Hornbein said:I always thought it meant "incompetent," but the dictionary says "unlucky." Huh. I now say that hapless is used as a euphemism for incompetence.
As my distant ancestor, Angus McGoldstein would say....hutchphd said:but I'll just stick to the Yiddish. (Its my Scots-Irish roots.)
Hornbein said:I wonder how many other words I have the wrong definitions for?
Ah , Uncle Angus.....I do love the number of descriptors of (often deficient) humans that are availible in Yiddish. A sclemiel is hopeless a schlemazel hapless and we could all use a few more good mensch.Vanadium 50 said:As my distant ancestor, Angus McGoldstein would say....
Apparanetly hap is an old Norse word for good luck. The original meaning, therefore, is ill-starred or ill-fated.DaveC426913 said:I'm not sure you're wrong; I'd say you have a subset of the word use.
Finding oneself inexplicably lost in a foreign country with no money, contacts or shelter could describe a hapless fella who got there either by no fault of his own or by fault of his own.