> > >
> > > I have to go with Unipeg on this one. Irony is more an incongruity than an unfortunate >
> > > Mousie
> >
> > Mousie, your lottery thing isn't ironic. It's fortunate, because than you have a WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY anyway. What would be ironic is if you won the lottery the day after it went bankrupt.
>
> Point taken. I guess I was just trying to say that all irony doesn't have to be a negative result when a positive one was expected.

OK, it's not neccessarily a NEGATIVE result when a POSITIVE was expected. Here's the word from my ninth- grade English notes:
Irony is:
1) The use of words to suggest the opposite of what they literally mean
-->2) Incongruity between what might be expected to happen and what actually happens

Some guy whose name I didn't write down said that irony was a bitter truth wrapped up in a little joke.

To round out my sources, I will also refer to Webster's II: New Riverside University Dictionary. Its copyright is in the 80's, but I doubt that the meaning has changed too much.
i-ron-y
2. a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens 2. b. An occurence, circumstance, or result notable for such an occurrence

There are a few more, but I thought those the most mainstream.
I feel better having gotten those off my chest. Thank you.

Chris