happenv.

Brit.

/ˈhap(ə)n/, U.S.

/ˈhæpən/

Forms: Middle English hapin (northern), Middle English happn- (in inflected forms), Middle English happon, Middle English 1700s appen, Middle English–1600s happin, Middle English–1600s happyn, Middle English–1700s hapen, Middle English–1700s hapn- (in inflected forms), Middle English– happen, 1500s hapne, 1700s happne, 1800s– 'appen; also Scottish pre-1700 happine, pre-1700 hapyne, 1800s– heppen.

Origin: Probably formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: hap n.¹, -en suffix⁵.

Etymology: Probably < hap n.¹ + -en suffix⁵. Compare Old Icelandic heppnast to have good luck. Compare hap v.¹In Middle English, this word can be difficult to distinguish from hap v.¹ in the infinitive and in the indicative and subjunctive plural cases, which are inflected -en in some midland and southern texts. In sense 5 by ellipsis from to happen on at sense 3b(b).

1. Of an event, action, etc.: to take place, to come to pass, occur (typically expressing simple occurrence, with little or no implication of causality); to ensue as an effect or result.

a. intransitive. With anticipatory it or non-referential there as subject and with the action expressed by a subordinate clause or to-infinitive following the verb: to occur, to be the situation (that). Cf. chance v. 1a.Frequently in formulas, such as as it happens, it so happens (that), happen as it may.

ΚΠ

1385 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1709) VII. 469 Gif it happens that any Gretter..schapes for to Ride whte oste.

?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 118 If it hapne þat any man..dye by þe way.

c1480 (a1400) St. Bartholomew 73 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 182 Gyf it hapyne sa þat he wil thole hyme of ȝou fundyn be.

a1500 Warkworth's Chron. (1839) 10 And if it appenede that he disceysed witheoute heyres..thenne schulde the kyngdome..remane unto George, the Duke of Clarence.

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 382 That I haue hecht I sall hald, happin as it may.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 13^v If there happened to be any thing broken.

1618 Owles Almanacke (new ed.) 53 It may so happen, that as I haue here chattered of your vernall age, so I may hereafter tell you of your winter blasts.

a1633 G. Herbert Priest to Temple (1652) xxxi. 128 Now it so happens, that the godly petitioner..omits his additionary prayer.

1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical x. 127 It happening to Rain.

1781 T. Holcroft Duplicity v. i. 68 How did it happen that you did not enquire of me myself who I was?

1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. vii. 62 As it happens, they are all of them very clever.

1882 Cent. Mag. Jan. 385/1 Thus it happens that..there runs a gentle gradation through every stage of yellowish and whitish brown.

1926 Penrose's Ann. 28 78 It so happens that photo-composing was the problem which induced the inventors to devise such novel methods.

2001 J. Franzen Corrections 190 It happened that in June, as the first dominoes of the overseas currency crises were toppling, Gary had pulled most of his playing-around money out of..Far Eastern growth funds.

(a) intransitive. With a simple or indeterminate subject (frequently an indefinite or interrogative pronoun).Cf. accidents will happen at accident n. Phrases 3a, worse things happen at sea at sea n. 10c.Also with to expressing the person or thing affected by an occurrence.Formerly sometimes with be as auxiliary.

ΚΠ

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 7831 (MED) Soudeinliche ayein his floures The Somer hapneth and is riche.

?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 87 It is made vnkyndely when þat anoþer humour comeþ to it wiþouteforþ, þe whiche may hapne manyfolde.

c1480 (a1400) St. Mary Magdalen 392 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 267 Þu mycht sone peryste be be storme þat hapnis in þe se.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark x. f. lx What thinges shulde happen vnto him.

1528 D. Lindsay Dreme 56 The mater hapnit thus.

1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xxxviii. f. 91^v He shewed there al that was hapned.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 175 The greatest evill that can happen in this life.

1664 H. Oldenburg Let. 16 Mar. in Corr. (1965) II. 149 Observations of yesd [= the said] Planets Conjunction wth ye Sun, wch, according to one best Calculation, will happen here in England about London on ye 25th Octob. of this present year.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 5 There happen'd between these Two Men a Dispute about a Matter of Love.

1809 J. Rennell in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 99 403 The..accident happened at dead neaps.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 126 He would like to know what will happen to him.

1931 L. Le Mesurier Boys in Trouble xv. 162 What will happen during the actual period of the sentence?

1963 S. Douglas Years of Combat x. 251 Tracers might come whistling past one's ears, indicating all too clearly that the enemy..was on the attack. If that happened it meant that we had lost out in the preliminary tactical manoeuvrings.

1970 J. Dickey Deliverance iii. 126 I had watched everything that had happened to Bobby.

2011 J. Buchan Trawlerman ii. 47 The skippers were mostly older salts, retired seamen, but they would still be in touch with what was happening down at the main port.

(b) intransitive. More emphatically: to occur by chance rather than design; to come about without (obvious) cause. Frequently expressing a resigned attitude to any state of affairs or course of events. Cf. shit happens at shit n. and adj. Phrases 26.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] > come about by chance

alimpOE

fallc1175

fortunec1369

chance1393

hapa1398

to fall profitc1475

adventurec1540

to fall out1556

befall1591

befortunea1616

happen1833

random1921

1833 Vermont Chron. 28 June 102/5 Can it be that so many events, so well suited to each other, and forming such a beautiful system for the speedy conversion of China, have merely happened?

1882 A. Muir Lady Beauty iv. 162 I have heard something this morning which renders your marriage with young Brent impossible... These things happen, Sophy.

1915 J. Turner Let. 15 July in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 16 You see, things happen—and happen very quickly out here. No reasons given.

1922 Amer. Cinematographer Dec. 4/1 Education is unfolding—development—direction. Sometimes it just happens.

1967 Boys' Life Oct. 17/1 The Scout knife didn't just happen. It was designed—by camping experts—more than half a century ago.

2006 K. Hnida Still Kicking xv. 233 ‘Hey, it happens,’ Wes told me, shrugging.

c. intransitive. With indirect object (dative): to befall. Cf. chance v. 1b. Now Scottish, Irish English, and English regional (chiefly northern).impersonal, with non-referential it as subject, and with simple subject (as in senses 1a and 1b(a)).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > happen to

tocomeeOE

limpc888

i-timeOE

alimpOE

comeOE

on-becomeOE

tidec1000

befallc1175

betidec1175

betimea1225

fallc1225

time?c1225

yfallc1275

timea1325

happena1393

to run upon ——a1393

behapa1450

bechance1530

succeeda1533

attaina1535

behappen1596

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 3423 (MED) Where him hapneth the victoire, His lust..Was forto sle and noght to save.

c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 3196 If hym hapne to haf enemys.

c1480 (a1400) St. John Evangelist 147 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 113 It hapnyt syne þir ȝunge men twa vith Iohne, þare master, for to ga.

1529 Malory's Mort Darthur (de Worde) vi. xi. sig. i.viii^v/1 It happened hym agaynst a nyght to come to a fayre courtlage.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 135^v Now fryndes in faith vs is faire happont.

a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 6 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) If it should happen the Captaine suddenly to dye, or to be slaine in battell.

1609 R. Jones Musicall Dreame Ep. Ded. sig. A2 It happened mee to fall into a Musical dreame, wherein I chanced to haue many opinions and extrauagant humors of diuers Natures and Conditions.

1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (new ed.) I. 114 Tis either Cunning or Disdain That does such Ways allow; The first is base, the last is vain: May neither happen you.

1801 E. Helme St. Margaret's Cave III. xiv. 272 Lest any vexatious accident should happen him by the way.

1814 E. S. Barrett Heroine (ed. 2) II. xxii. 139 No harm shall happen you.

1908 J. Barlow Mockers 101 Leave him an open door, Lest harm some day should happen him.

1936 ‘F. O'Connor’ Bones of Contention 76 What happened you at all, poor woman?

1999 D. Healy Sudden Times ii. 46 He popped some speed in my tea. That's the second time that happened me.

†d. intransitive. With out: to come about, result, eventuate. Cf. to fall out at Phrasal verbs 1, to turn out at turn v. Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete.With non-referential it as subject and with simple subject (as in senses 1a and 1b(a)).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)]

becomec888

i-tidec888

falleOE

ywortheOE

i-limp975

belimpOE

i-timeOE

worthOE

tidea1131

goa1200

arearc1275

syec1275

betide1297

fere1297

risea1350

to come aboutc1350

overcomea1382

passa1393

comea1400

to come in (also to, on, etc.) placea1400

eschew?a1400

chevec1400

shapec1400

hold1462

to come (also go) to pass1481

proceed?1518

occura1522

bechance1527

overpass1530

sorta1535

succeed1537

adventurec1540

to fall toc1540

success1545

to fall forth1569

fadge1573

beword?1577

to fall in1578

happen1580

event1590

arrive1600

offer1601

grow1614

fudge1615

incur1626

evene1654

obvene1654

to take place1770

transpire1775

to go on1873

to show up1879

materialize1885

break1914

cook1932

to go down1946

1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 6 He wer glad to see things happen out so well, and determined with himselfe to make a Cosin of his young Nephew.

a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 209 He [sc. James III] hapnit out wnhappelie and said ‘I was [ȝ]our king this day at morne.’

1646 H. Hammond View Exceptions to Visct. Falkland's Disc. Infallibilitie 124 The case he puts is morally impossible to happen out.

1684 tr. Eutropius Breviary Rom. Hist. vii. 106 It happened out that these two Consuls..were slain.

1709 J. Swift Mrs. Harris's Petition in Baucis & Philemon (new ed.) 12 Here's an ugly Accident has happened out.

1753 W. Harris Hist. Acct. Life James I 125 Somewhat unluckily, it has happened out, that where they have once done good, they have ten times done hurt.

e. intransitive. With anything or other indeterminate subject (in, e.g., if anything happens to me, etc.), expressing the possibility of death, an accident, or other serious event befalling a person (or thing).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > of an accident or something serious

happen1724

1724 D. Defoe Fortunate Mistress 43 There is a good estate for you in this case; if anything happens to me 'tis all your own, I give it you for yourself.

1795 Ld. Nelson Let. 10 Mar. (1945) II. 18 A glorious death is to be envied; and if anything happens to me, recollect that death is a debt we must all pay.

1829 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 719/1 In the event of ‘any thing happening to his father’, as the modern phrase for the termination of man's mortal career runs.

1884 G. C. Davies Peter Penniless x It isn't a night for any man to be left out in if anything has happened to him.

1905 Daily Chron. 21 Oct. 4/7 If anything 'appens to you—which God be between you and 'arm—I'll look after the kids.

1921 K. Jordan Trouble-the-house 202 If aught should happen to you I could not bear the burden of existence!

1965 N. Dunn Talking to Women 40 Lots of people they plan and they put this away for when they get old and that type of thing and then anything happens and who has it, their kids, don't they?

2003 Indianapolis Business Jrnl. (Nexis) 3 Mar. 3 They could have been personably liable and/or subject to criminal liability if something happened to the plane.

a. intransitive. To have the (good or bad) fortune (to do something); (now usually without implication of causality) = chance v. 1c. Cf. hap v.¹ 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] > chance to be or do

hapa1393

happena1393

happenc1450

fortune1454

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 2375 Supplant with his slyhe cast Fulofte happneth forto mowe Thing which an other man hath sowe.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3602 (MED) Þu may hapin to sla sum dere.

1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters ii. x. f. lxi And it happen to rayne, out poure they pispottys vppon his hed.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 160^v If they happen to eate Lupines, they wyll strayght swell vnder the eyes.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 740 One of their Ships..happened to strike on a great Whale with her full stemme.

1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel To Rdr. p. i If I happen to please the more Moderate sort, I shall be sure of..the best Judges.

1714 J. Swift Publick Spirit Whigs 29 I am at a Loss how to dispose of the Dauphin, if he happen to be King of France before the Pretendership to Britain falls to his share.

1792 Gentleman's Mag. 17/2 The conversation happened to turn on the lottery.

1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby iii. 16 I happen to know that she is.

1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 8 The impression the hearer..happens to have formed.

1915 W. Cather Song of Lark iii. iii. 179 She sometimes stopped at his study to eat candy with him or to hear the plot of the novel he happened to be reading.

1999 Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) (Nexis) 28 Mar. (Sunshine Mag.) 8 I happened to find out that by blowing very gently on his beak, he [sc. a cockatoo] would quawk, quawk.

b. intransitive. With infinitive: used with varying degrees of intensity to support or imply an assertion. Also with non-referential it as subject, and sometimes followed by a subordinate clause (cf. it so happens at sense 1a).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > maintaining or upholding as true > maintain or uphold as true [verb (intransitive)]

to bear (a person or thing) in (also an, a, on) handc1300

contend1548

happen1705

1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband ii. 18 If she were a Woman of the Town, perhaps I shou'd think so too: But she happens to be my Wife.

1784 London Mag. Sept. 206/2 I have too little of the modern critic in me, to condemn any private work because I happen to dislike the name, person, or country of the author.

1866 Daily Tel. 5 Jan. 5/2 Trawling, shrimping, trammelling..methods deprecated by those who don't happen to practise them.

1933 F. Baldwin Innocent Bystander (1935) v. 95 She happens to be my only sister's child and I have an interest in her.

1936 P. G. Wodehouse Laughing Gas xii. 119 It so happens that in the matter of pyjamas I've always been a trifle on the choosy side.

1956 N. Coward South Sea Bubble ii. i Ch. You have got it in for her, haven't you? C. Certainly not. I just don't happen to like the way she goes on.

1957 B. Evans & C. Evans Dict. Contemp. Amer. Usage 217/1 It happens we like her.

2008 Vanity Fair Oct. 194/2 That doesn't apply to me, since I don't happen to have a wall-size plasma screen.

†a. intransitive. To chance to be or to come; to make one's appearance, occur. Cf. to turn up 14a(a) at turn v. Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete except as implied by uses with adverbs and prepositions at sense 3b.Formerly sometimes with be as auxiliary.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)]

fallc1175

hapa1393

luckc1438

happenc1450

chance1536

to chop upon1555

hazard1575

alight1591

chop1652

lucken1674

the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] > chance to be or do

hapa1393

happena1393

happenc1450

fortune1454

c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 187 (MED) He had grete mervale how þer namys happend so sodanly in his mouthe.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 351 Scho..tald his Eyme that he was hapnyt thar.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. vii. 84 He felt hym self happynnyt amyd his foyn.

1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden cl The knots or kernels that happen in any part of the body.

1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer ii. i. 11 It made a Jest for every body that went by; and wou'd have been apprehended by the very blind Cuckold himself, had he hapned in the way.

a1753 P. Drake Memoirs (1755) I. v. 37 Two other Officers..coming up to us, asked how we happened abroad so late?

1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 85 I once happened in Company with a very ingenious Gentleman.

1806 M. L. Weems Life G. Washington (ed. 5) i. 3 Some young Americans happening at Toulon.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 194 Its the only book thou canst not happen wrong in.

(a) intransitive. to happen into: to go or come into casually or by chance. Also: to encounter by chance. Now chiefly North American.

ΚΠ

1513 King Henry VIII in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1824) V. 317 In caas the said retardation had not been, our said ship of al similitude had not happened into the said daungier.

1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. f. 143 If at any time a sicke man happen into his handes, [etc.].

1607 G. Markham Cavelarice v. ii. 11 If there happen into your charge eyther Turkes, Ienets, Arabians or other countrie horses.

1643 E. Bowles Mysterie Iniquitie 36 They happened into the company of a..Priest.

1693 H. Shreeves tr. Polybius Hist. I. iii. 165 Happening into this place, so commodious for every thing, he was willing they should want for nothing that might advance their Recovery.

1707 W. Funnell Voy. round World x. 281 If any do chance to come amongst them, and happen into their Hands.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 50 We might happen into some Bay or Gulph.

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. vi. 157 Well; and so, I happens into that air store o' his'n.

1889 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 29 Oct. 2/3 Happening into a book auction sale in Boston.

1910 Everybody's Mag. May 655/2 We happened into them late on the night of Lincoln's Birthday, or, rather, early on the morning following.

1977 S. J. Perelman Eastward Ha! i. 22 An American tourist with pebble glasses and a ginger moustache happened into a luggage shop on Princes Street.

1999 E. Kelton Lone Star Rising (2003) 120 They just happened into me. I was headed the other direction, to Fort Belknap.

(b) intransitive. to happen on (also to happen upon, now rarely to happen of): to come upon by chance or casually, to find or encounter by chance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > find or discover [verb (intransitive)] > by chance

findeOE

to happen on1529

1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters ii. ix. f. 57^v/1 Ye myght happen vppon a dogge leche for lacke of knowledge of the connyng.

1533 T. More Apologye 5 [They] can not yet happen on them, but after longe sekynge.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxc The capitain..happened by chaunce of a fishar man.

1605 W. Camden Remaines ii. 2 If sometime you happen of an vncouth word.

1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xlv. 110 If one happen vpon a bag of Gold, Silver, Pearle, or precious Stones, it is held well gotten; provided it be cleanly stolne.

1701 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) V. 71 The Harwich..happ'ned upon a quick sand.

1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 33 When we were driving our Piles, we often happened on some of the large Stones.

1796 F. Burney Camilla II. 124 Why, I happened of a little accident about that..the broom knocked the ink down.

1820 J. Clare Let. 4 July (1985) 82 I think it the most pleasing book I ever happend on.

1883 W. H. Bishop in Harper's Mag. Oct. 715/2 ‘Pockets’ of precious metals happened upon by miners.

1888 H. R. Haggard Col. Quaritch xii I had just happened of him up a tree when you began to halloa.

1905 M. G. Peterson How to know Wild Fruits p. xiii If in a country drive or ramble we happen upon an unknown flower, it is a comparatively easy matter..to identify it.

2008 N. Wimmer tr. R. Bolaño 2666 i. 38 In these heady days, Pelletier happened on a piece written by the Swabian.

(c) intransitive. Chiefly North American. to happen in: to go or come in casually; esp. to drop in unexpectedly or unannounced. Also to happen in with: to fall in with, to meet casually.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > visit [verb (intransitive)] > visit informally

to call in1573

to drop in1609

to look ina1616

to come round1620

to go round1636

to put in1668

to go around1742

to happen in1749

to run in and out1779

to come around1822

to pop in and out1846

to happen in with1883

to stop in1904

stop1905

1749 J. Smith Jrnl. 22 Aug. in G. O. Seilhamer Hist. Amer. Theatre before Revol. (1888) i. 2 Joseph Morris and I happened in at Peacock Bigger's, and drank tea there.

1825 J. F. Cooper Lionel Lincoln II. xi. 288 Being there, I went out of the town with some company that I happened in with.

1845 C. M. Kirkland Western Clearings 116 He could hardly have ‘happened in’ at a more fortunate juncture.

1873 A. D. Whitney Other Girls xxxiii. 422 A friend or two happening in now and then to see them.

1883 W. Blaikie in Harper's Mag. Nov. 905/1 Just happen in with them at meal-time.

1922 Canad. Forum Oct. 16/2 One day..we happened in with a gang of four or five bigger boys.

1970 New Yorker 26 Sept. 35/3 To any of the girls who happened in before she fell asleep she explained that she was taking forty winks.

2010 L. R. Holben For All Saints 290 Whoever happened to come in and sit behind the desk assumed control until someone else happened in to sit.

(d) intransitive. Chiefly North American. to happen along: to chance to come along or past. Also similarly to happen by (also around, back, over).

ΚΠ

1832 Instr. Deaf & Dumb 75 Q. Are you able to call for assistance, if you are attacked? A. No; they (the watch) happened along.

1846 Amer. Whig. Rev. Jan. 20/1 ‘I wonder how he happened over this way,’ he continued.

1880 Columbia Spectator (Columbia Univ., N.Y.) 8 Oct. 52 The gale Tore from her derby hat the veil. I happened by, and saw it fly.

1882 L. L. Lynch Shadowed by Three liii. 730 You see that officious Mr. Bathurst had forestalled me, and Mrs. Richards had the grapes all ready; that's how I happened back.

1898 J. O. Kerbey Further Adventures of Boy Spy in Dixie ii. 28 I happened around to the Wells house..knowing very well that Geno, dressed in her most becoming of Summer toilets, would soon join me on the veranda.

1932 J. Buchan Magic Walking-stick vii. 71 They take no more concern in the parish than a gor-crow that happens over from Alemoor to pick up a pullet.

1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard viii. 246 She had decided she would just happen back.

1998 Chicago Tribune 24 Dec. ii. 7/2 Planting yourself on the couch and watching anything that happens along.

2011 Independent 29 July (Viewspaper section) 3/1 The next chef, Jean-Paul Vinay, added a second star in 1983—the same year that Ferran Adria happened by.

†4. intransitive. With to (also unto): to fall to the lot of someone; to come a person's way, to fall into the hands of a person. Also in figurative contexts. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > fall to one

shootc1175

happen1477

to come in one's way1533

land1679

to come a person's waya1816

to drop into the lap of1962

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 71 I shall doo the vtterist of my power for to conquere hit, what som euer daunger or parill fall or happen to me in the conquest.

1518 H. Watson in tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle Tabula sig. Aa.iii Of the grete fortune that happened to Olyuer vpon the see, and how he and the Englysshe knyght were preserued from drownynge.

1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. i. 62* If temporall dominion or possession happen to the minister of the Gospell.

1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Life Agricola in tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. 240 His Pretorship also he passed ouer in the same sort, with the like silence: for none of the iudiciall places happened vnto him.

1629 Vse of Law 45 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light All such duties, Rents, Releases, Wardships, Copie-holds or the like, that had hapned vnto him.

1686 W. de Britaine Humane Prudence (ed. 3) xi. 53 So little a part of it, as that which will happen to my share.

a1764 R. Lloyd Poet. Wks. (1774) II. 85 More compassion..Than always happens to the share Of the more cruel human fair.

5. transitive. Chiefly English regional (northern). To encounter casually or by chance; to incur, experience. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience

ymetec893

findeOE

meetOE

counterc1325

overtakec1390

limp?a1400

tidea1400

runa1450

to fall with ——?c1475

onlightc1475

recounterc1485

recount1490

to come in witha1500

occur1531

to fall on ——1533

to fall upon ——1533

beshine1574

rencontre1582

entertain1591

cope with1594

happen1594

tocome1596

incur1599

forgather1600

thwart1601

to fall in1675

cross1684

to come across ——1738

to cross upon (or on)1748

to fall across ——1760

experience1786

to drop in1802

encounter1814

to come upon ——1820

to run against ——1821

to come in contact with1862

to run across ——1864

to knock or run up against1886

to knock up against1887

1594 (a1555) D. Lindsay Hist. Squyer Meldrum l. 834 in Wks. (1931) I. 168 Greit Conquerouris, I ȝow assure, Hes hapnit siclike aduenture.

1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy III. xxiv. 127 It never could get lame or happen any mischance, but it tickled my father's imagination beyond measure.

1805 Belville-house II. ii. 18 Mr. Dormer asked if he had been so unfortunate as to happen an accident.

1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. Happen, often used actively, in the sense of, To meet with, to incur.

1880 Ld. Tennyson Village Wife iv, in Ballads & Other Poems 47 Straänge an' cowd fur the time! we may happen a fall o' snaw.

1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 Oct. 2/2 Men-of-war are constantly..happening mischances of one kind or another.

1892 R. C. V. Meyers in Speaker's Garland & Literary Bouquet xxxii. 212 What'll happen a man like me, That knows the world and can't be done By anybody under the sun.

6. colloquial (originally U.S. Music slang).

a. intransitive. To succeed; to come off, be effective; to make an impression. Cf. it's all happening at Phrases 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)]

speedc1175

fayc1300

provec1300

flourishc1400

passc1425

prosper1434

succeedc1450

to take placea1464

to come well to (our) pass1481

shift?1533

hitc1540

walka1556

fadge1573

thrive1587

work1599

to come (good) speedc1600

to go off1608

sort1613

go1699

answer1721

to get along1768

to turn up trumps1785

to come off1854

pan1865

scour1871

arrive1889

to work out1899

to ring the bell1900

to go over1907

click1916

happen1949

1949 A. Shaw Vocab. Tin-Pan Alley in Music Libr. Assoc. Notes Dec. 44/1 A song happens..when the preparatory work results in a successful bid for popularity.

1962 Down Beat 8 Nov. 38 It sounded like they were all striving to create..but it didn't really happen.

1967 Crescendo Dec. 27/4 We could either go back to New York with a flop show, or try to stay over and make a band happen.

1971 Melody Maker 9 Oct. 18/5 The guitar solo didn't happen.

2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 13 Mar. ii. 30/1 When the East Village happened in the early 1980's, many white artists left the Bronx for Manhattan.

2006 ‘Touré’ Never drank Kool-Aid 58 I wanna hit that spot in niggers that be like, ‘Damn, that be happenin, man’.

b. intransitive. To be exciting, lively, fashionable, or stylish. Usually in progressive tenses, as where it's happening, etc., and so sometimes difficult to distinguish from predicative use of happening adj. 3.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > [verb (intransitive)] > be full of pleasurable excitement (of places)

jumpc1938

happen1955

1955 Down Beat 13 July 33/2 I don't think much of anything happens here.

1965 Back Stage 24 Sept. 4/4 Jill St. John decided London is where it's happening and will divide her time equally between Beverly Hills and the foggy, foggy dew from here on out.

1969 N.Y. Times 12 Apr. 7/2 (advt.) Meet Joe Colombo... He's what's happening. A modern Renaissance man, architect and painter as well as award-winning designer.

1988 Texas Monthly Nov. 185/2 Houston is where it's happening.

1999 M. Abergel Work your Stars! 141 You inevitably find your way to the hub of any industry. Where it's happening is where you like to be.

2010 S. Rendall tr. P. Bruckner Tyranny of Guilt vii. 169 To put it crudely, France is no longer where it's happening. The center of gravity has shifted.

Phrases

P1. do you happen to (also you don't happen to, etc.): used as a polite formula in questions (esp. requests).

ΚΠ

1813 Minutes Evid. Sel. Comm. Commons East-India Co. 769 Do you happen to know whether there were many disputes or differences arising between the Chinese government and any of those persons?

1823 Ld. Byron Blues in Liberal 2 No. 3. 3 You don't happen to have the Review in your pocket?

1878 W. E. Barnes Only Farmer's Daughter Prol. i. 9 Mr. Lennox, do you happen to have any rat poison in your pocket?

1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase xxvi. 352 Do you happen to have a railway time-table on you?

1973 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer vii. 74 You don't happen to have any cigarettes?

2007 A. Theroux Laura Warholic v. 53 Do you happen to remember how one day just roaming around the countryside he spies..Zacchaeus.

P2. U.S. colloquial (esp. in African-American usage). what's happening?: (as a greeting) ‘what's going on?’, ‘what have you been up to?’ Cf. what's the haps? at hap n.³

ΚΠ

1956 Tennessee Folklore Soc. Bull. 22 23 ‘What's happening, man?’—A common greeting.

1976 E. Bullins Home Boy 7 What's happenin', poppa stoppa?

1989 Observer 25 June (Colour Suppl.) 5/2 A customer will kerb-crawl until someone approaches and says something non-committal like ‘Hey, what's happenin'?’

1995 P. Roth Sabbath's Theater 379 What's happenin', Mort? What's up wit dju '?

2011 M. Lavorato Believing Cedric 79 One of them greeted her with an offhand, ‘Hey, what's happenin'?’

P3. Originally Music slang. it's all happening and variants: there is much activity or success.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > there is much success [phrase]

it's all happening1963

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > acting vigorously or energetically [phrase] > full of brisk activity

never a dull moment1889

it's all happening1963

1963 (title of film) It's all happening.

1966 Crescendo Mar. 2/3 ‘It's all happening’ was one of the more tiresome items in the pseudo-hip phrase books of the recent past. It seldom meant much while it was in fashion, but there has now arisen a situation which it describes exactly. For it really is all happening for Stan Tracey this year.

1967 Crescendo Feb. 19/1 It's all been happening at the Village Vanguard lately.

1977 J. Johnston Shadows on our Skin 36 Yep. To begin with it's awful..and then..suddenly it's O.K. Fantastic. It's all there. All happening. You could make a packet.

1991 J. Marsden Lett. from Inside (1992) 119 Soph got busted with some bombers this morning so it's all happening here.

2005 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 1 July 8/2 To steal a line from cricket's Mr Excitable Bill Lawry, when it comes to footy in the Sunshine State, it's all happening.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	happen
释义	† happenadj. Forms: Middle English hapnest (superlative), Middle English happen; Scottish pre-1700 happyn. Origin: Of uncertain origin. Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < an early Scandinavian adjective (compare Old Icelandic heppinn lucky, Norwegian heppen lucky, favourable) < the same base as the verbs cited at hap v.¹, with alteration of the stem vowel by association with hap n.¹ or hap v.¹ Compare happenly adv. and earlier happy adj. Obsolete. Fortunate, happy; blessed. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > [adjective] > favoured or attended by good fortune eadilyOE blessedc1175 selec1225 yblessed1297 fortunedc1374 fortunatec1386 happya1393 happenc1400 well-fortunedc1425 lucklyc1450 fortunablec1470 fortunousc1470 well-fortunate1474 richc1478 lucky?1510 comical?1569 well1577 propitious1581 felicious1599 auspicious1616 felicitous1641 bonifate1656 faust1676 weirdly1807 arsey1953 c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 13 Thay arn happen þat han in hert pouerte..Þay ar happen also þat haunte mekenesse. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 56 Þe hapnest vnder heuen. c1480 (a1400) St. Placidus 31 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 70 Happyn man is he þat, befor he þire taknis se, penance to do here wil begyne. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online December 2021). happenv. Brit. /ˈhap(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈhæpən/ Forms: Middle English hapin (northern), Middle English happn- (in inflected forms), Middle English happon, Middle English 1700s appen, Middle English–1600s happin, Middle English–1600s happyn, Middle English–1700s hapen, Middle English–1700s hapn- (in inflected forms), Middle English– happen, 1500s hapne, 1700s happne, 1800s– 'appen; also Scottish pre-1700 happine, pre-1700 hapyne, 1800s– heppen. Origin: Probably formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: hap n.¹, -en suffix⁵. Etymology: Probably < hap n.¹ + -en suffix⁵. Compare Old Icelandic heppnast to have good luck. Compare hap v.¹In Middle English, this word can be difficult to distinguish from hap v.¹ in the infinitive and in the indicative and subjunctive plural cases, which are inflected -en in some midland and southern texts. In sense 5 by ellipsis from to happen on at sense 3b(b). 1. Of an event, action, etc.: to take place, to come to pass, occur (typically expressing simple occurrence, with little or no implication of causality); to ensue as an effect or result. a. intransitive. With anticipatory it or non-referential there as subject and with the action expressed by a subordinate clause or to-infinitive following the verb: to occur, to be the situation (that). Cf. chance v. 1a.Frequently in formulas, such as as it happens, it so happens (that), happen as it may. ΚΠ 1385 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1709) VII. 469 Gif it happens that any Gretter..schapes for to Ride whte oste. ?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 118 If it hapne þat any man..dye by þe way. c1480 (a1400) St. Bartholomew 73 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 182 Gyf it hapyne sa þat he wil thole hyme of ȝou fundyn be. a1500 Warkworth's Chron. (1839) 10 And if it appenede that he disceysed witheoute heyres..thenne schulde the kyngdome..remane unto George, the Duke of Clarence. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 382 That I haue hecht I sall hald, happin as it may. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 13^v If there happened to be any thing broken. 1618 Owles Almanacke (new ed.) 53 It may so happen, that as I haue here chattered of your vernall age, so I may hereafter tell you of your winter blasts. a1633 G. Herbert Priest to Temple (1652) xxxi. 128 Now it so happens, that the godly petitioner..omits his additionary prayer. 1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical x. 127 It happening to Rain. 1781 T. Holcroft Duplicity v. i. 68 How did it happen that you did not enquire of me myself who I was? 1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. vii. 62 As it happens, they are all of them very clever. View more context for this quotation 1882 Cent. Mag. Jan. 385/1 Thus it happens that..there runs a gentle gradation through every stage of yellowish and whitish brown. 1926 Penrose's Ann. 28 78 It so happens that photo-composing was the problem which induced the inventors to devise such novel methods. 2001 J. Franzen Corrections 190 It happened that in June, as the first dominoes of the overseas currency crises were toppling, Gary had pulled most of his playing-around money out of..Far Eastern growth funds. b. (a) intransitive. With a simple or indeterminate subject (frequently an indefinite or interrogative pronoun).Cf. accidents will happen at accident n. Phrases 3a, worse things happen at sea at sea n. 10c.Also with to expressing the person or thing affected by an occurrence.Formerly sometimes with be as auxiliary. ΚΠ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 7831 (MED) Soudeinliche ayein his floures The Somer hapneth and is riche. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 87 It is made vnkyndely when þat anoþer humour comeþ to it wiþouteforþ, þe whiche may hapne manyfolde. c1480 (a1400) St. Mary Magdalen 392 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 267 Þu mycht sone peryste be be storme þat hapnis in þe se. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark x. f. lx What thinges shulde happen vnto him. 1528 D. Lindsay Dreme 56 The mater hapnit thus. 1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xxxviii. f. 91^v He shewed there al that was hapned. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 175 The greatest evill that can happen in this life. 1664 H. Oldenburg Let. 16 Mar. in Corr. (1965) II. 149 Observations of yesd [= the said] Planets Conjunction wth ye Sun, wch, according to one best Calculation, will happen here in England about London on ye 25th Octob. of this present year. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 5 There happen'd between these Two Men a Dispute about a Matter of Love. 1809 J. Rennell in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 99 403 The..accident happened at dead neaps. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 126 He would like to know what will happen to him. 1931 L. Le Mesurier Boys in Trouble xv. 162 What will happen during the actual period of the sentence? 1963 S. Douglas Years of Combat x. 251 Tracers might come whistling past one's ears, indicating all too clearly that the enemy..was on the attack. If that happened it meant that we had lost out in the preliminary tactical manoeuvrings. 1970 J. Dickey Deliverance iii. 126 I had watched everything that had happened to Bobby. 2011 J. Buchan Trawlerman ii. 47 The skippers were mostly older salts, retired seamen, but they would still be in touch with what was happening down at the main port. (b) intransitive. More emphatically: to occur by chance rather than design; to come about without (obvious) cause. Frequently expressing a resigned attitude to any state of affairs or course of events. Cf. shit happens at shit n. and adj. Phrases 26. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] > come about by chance alimpOE fallc1175 fortunec1369 chance1393 hapa1398 to fall profitc1475 adventurec1540 to fall out1556 befall1591 befortunea1616 happen1833 random1921 1833 Vermont Chron. 28 June 102/5 Can it be that so many events, so well suited to each other, and forming such a beautiful system for the speedy conversion of China, have merely happened? 1882 A. Muir Lady Beauty iv. 162 I have heard something this morning which renders your marriage with young Brent impossible... These things happen, Sophy. 1915 J. Turner Let. 15 July in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 16 You see, things happen—and happen very quickly out here. No reasons given. 1922 Amer. Cinematographer Dec. 4/1 Education is unfolding—development—direction. Sometimes it just happens. 1967 Boys' Life Oct. 17/1 The Scout knife didn't just happen. It was designed—by camping experts—more than half a century ago. 2006 K. Hnida Still Kicking xv. 233 ‘Hey, it happens,’ Wes told me, shrugging. c. intransitive. With indirect object (dative): to befall. Cf. chance v. 1b. Now Scottish, Irish English, and English regional (chiefly northern).impersonal, with non-referential it as subject, and with simple subject (as in senses 1a and 1b(a)). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > happen to tocomeeOE limpc888 i-timeOE alimpOE comeOE on-becomeOE tidec1000 befallc1175 betidec1175 betimea1225 fallc1225 time?c1225 yfallc1275 timea1325 happena1393 to run upon ——a1393 behapa1450 bechance1530 succeeda1533 attaina1535 behappen1596 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 3423 (MED) Where him hapneth the victoire, His lust..Was forto sle and noght to save. c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 3196 If hym hapne to haf enemys. c1480 (a1400) St. John Evangelist 147 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 113 It hapnyt syne þir ȝunge men twa vith Iohne, þare master, for to ga. 1529 Malory's Mort Darthur (de Worde) vi. xi. sig. i.viii^v/1 It happened hym agaynst a nyght to come to a fayre courtlage. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 135^v Now fryndes in faith vs is faire happont. a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 6 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) If it should happen the Captaine suddenly to dye, or to be slaine in battell. 1609 R. Jones Musicall Dreame Ep. Ded. sig. A2 It happened mee to fall into a Musical dreame, wherein I chanced to haue many opinions and extrauagant humors of diuers Natures and Conditions. 1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (new ed.) I. 114 Tis either Cunning or Disdain That does such Ways allow; The first is base, the last is vain: May neither happen you. 1801 E. Helme St. Margaret's Cave III. xiv. 272 Lest any vexatious accident should happen him by the way. 1814 E. S. Barrett Heroine (ed. 2) II. xxii. 139 No harm shall happen you. 1908 J. Barlow Mockers 101 Leave him an open door, Lest harm some day should happen him. 1936 ‘F. O'Connor’ Bones of Contention 76 What happened you at all, poor woman? 1999 D. Healy Sudden Times ii. 46 He popped some speed in my tea. That's the second time that happened me. †d. intransitive. With out: to come about, result, eventuate. Cf. to fall out at Phrasal verbs 1, to turn out at turn v. Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete.With non-referential it as subject and with simple subject (as in senses 1a and 1b(a)). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] becomec888 i-tidec888 falleOE ywortheOE i-limp975 belimpOE i-timeOE worthOE tidea1131 goa1200 arearc1275 syec1275 betide1297 fere1297 risea1350 to come aboutc1350 overcomea1382 passa1393 comea1400 to come in (also to, on, etc.) placea1400 eschew?a1400 chevec1400 shapec1400 hold1462 to come (also go) to pass1481 proceed?1518 occura1522 bechance1527 overpass1530 sorta1535 succeed1537 adventurec1540 to fall toc1540 success1545 to fall forth1569 fadge1573 beword?1577 to fall in1578 happen1580 event1590 arrive1600 offer1601 grow1614 fudge1615 incur1626 evene1654 obvene1654 to take place1770 transpire1775 to go on1873 to show up1879 materialize1885 break1914 cook1932 to go down1946 1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 6 He wer glad to see things happen out so well, and determined with himselfe to make a Cosin of his young Nephew. a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 209 He [sc. James III] hapnit out wnhappelie and said ‘I was [ȝ]our king this day at morne.’ 1646 H. Hammond View Exceptions to Visct. Falkland's Disc. Infallibilitie 124 The case he puts is morally impossible to happen out. 1684 tr. Eutropius Breviary Rom. Hist. vii. 106 It happened out that these two Consuls..were slain. 1709 J. Swift Mrs. Harris's Petition in Baucis & Philemon (new ed.) 12 Here's an ugly Accident has happened out. 1753 W. Harris Hist. Acct. Life James I 125 Somewhat unluckily, it has happened out, that where they have once done good, they have ten times done hurt. e. intransitive. With anything or other indeterminate subject (in, e.g., if anything happens to me, etc.), expressing the possibility of death, an accident, or other serious event befalling a person (or thing). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > of an accident or something serious happen1724 1724 D. Defoe Fortunate Mistress 43 There is a good estate for you in this case; if anything happens to me 'tis all your own, I give it you for yourself. 1795 Ld. Nelson Let. 10 Mar. (1945) II. 18 A glorious death is to be envied; and if anything happens to me, recollect that death is a debt we must all pay. 1829 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 719/1 In the event of ‘any thing happening to his father’, as the modern phrase for the termination of man's mortal career runs. 1884 G. C. Davies Peter Penniless x It isn't a night for any man to be left out in if anything has happened to him. 1905 Daily Chron. 21 Oct. 4/7 If anything 'appens to you—which God be between you and 'arm—I'll look after the kids. 1921 K. Jordan Trouble-the-house 202 If aught should happen to you I could not bear the burden of existence! 1965 N. Dunn Talking to Women 40 Lots of people they plan and they put this away for when they get old and that type of thing and then anything happens and who has it, their kids, don't they? 2003 Indianapolis Business Jrnl. (Nexis) 3 Mar. 3 They could have been personably liable and/or subject to criminal liability if something happened to the plane. 2. a. intransitive. To have the (good or bad) fortune (to do something); (now usually without implication of causality) = chance v. 1c. Cf. hap v.¹ 3. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] > chance to be or do hapa1393 happena1393 happenc1450 fortune1454 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 2375 Supplant with his slyhe cast Fulofte happneth forto mowe Thing which an other man hath sowe. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3602 (MED) Þu may hapin to sla sum dere. 1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters ii. x. f. lxi And it happen to rayne, out poure they pispottys vppon his hed. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 160^v If they happen to eate Lupines, they wyll strayght swell vnder the eyes. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 740 One of their Ships..happened to strike on a great Whale with her full stemme. 1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel To Rdr. p. i If I happen to please the more Moderate sort, I shall be sure of..the best Judges. 1714 J. Swift Publick Spirit Whigs 29 I am at a Loss how to dispose of the Dauphin, if he happen to be King of France before the Pretendership to Britain falls to his share. 1792 Gentleman's Mag. 17/2 The conversation happened to turn on the lottery. 1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby iii. 16 I happen to know that she is. 1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 8 The impression the hearer..happens to have formed. 1915 W. Cather Song of Lark iii. iii. 179 She sometimes stopped at his study to eat candy with him or to hear the plot of the novel he happened to be reading. 1999 Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) (Nexis) 28 Mar. (Sunshine Mag.) 8 I happened to find out that by blowing very gently on his beak, he [sc. a cockatoo] would quawk, quawk. b. intransitive. With infinitive: used with varying degrees of intensity to support or imply an assertion. Also with non-referential it as subject, and sometimes followed by a subordinate clause (cf. it so happens at sense 1a). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > maintaining or upholding as true > maintain or uphold as true [verb (intransitive)] to bear (a person or thing) in (also an, a, on) handc1300 contend1548 happen1705 1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband ii. 18 If she were a Woman of the Town, perhaps I shou'd think so too: But she happens to be my Wife. 1784 London Mag. Sept. 206/2 I have too little of the modern critic in me, to condemn any private work because I happen to dislike the name, person, or country of the author. 1866 Daily Tel. 5 Jan. 5/2 Trawling, shrimping, trammelling..methods deprecated by those who don't happen to practise them. 1933 F. Baldwin Innocent Bystander (1935) v. 95 She happens to be my only sister's child and I have an interest in her. 1936 P. G. Wodehouse Laughing Gas xii. 119 It so happens that in the matter of pyjamas I've always been a trifle on the choosy side. 1956 N. Coward South Sea Bubble ii. i Ch. You have got it in for her, haven't you? C. Certainly not. I just don't happen to like the way she goes on. 1957 B. Evans & C. Evans Dict. Contemp. Amer. Usage 217/1 It happens we like her. 2008 Vanity Fair Oct. 194/2 That doesn't apply to me, since I don't happen to have a wall-size plasma screen. 3. †a. intransitive. To chance to be or to come; to make one's appearance, occur. Cf. to turn up 14a(a) at turn v. Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete except as implied by uses with adverbs and prepositions at sense 3b.Formerly sometimes with be as auxiliary. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] fallc1175 hapa1393 luckc1438 happenc1450 chance1536 to chop upon1555 hazard1575 alight1591 chop1652 lucken1674 the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)] > chance to be or do hapa1393 happena1393 happenc1450 fortune1454 c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 187 (MED) He had grete mervale how þer namys happend so sodanly in his mouthe. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 351 Scho..tald his Eyme that he was hapnyt thar. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. vii. 84 He felt hym self happynnyt amyd his foyn. 1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden cl The knots or kernels that happen in any part of the body. 1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer ii. i. 11 It made a Jest for every body that went by; and wou'd have been apprehended by the very blind Cuckold himself, had he hapned in the way. a1753 P. Drake Memoirs (1755) I. v. 37 Two other Officers..coming up to us, asked how we happened abroad so late? 1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 85 I once happened in Company with a very ingenious Gentleman. 1806 M. L. Weems Life G. Washington (ed. 5) i. 3 Some young Americans happening at Toulon. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 194 Its the only book thou canst not happen wrong in. b. (a) intransitive. to happen into: to go or come into casually or by chance. Also: to encounter by chance. Now chiefly North American. ΚΠ 1513 King Henry VIII in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1824) V. 317 In caas the said retardation had not been, our said ship of al similitude had not happened into the said daungier. 1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. f. 143 If at any time a sicke man happen into his handes, [etc.]. 1607 G. Markham Cavelarice v. ii. 11 If there happen into your charge eyther Turkes, Ienets, Arabians or other countrie horses. 1643 E. Bowles Mysterie Iniquitie 36 They happened into the company of a..Priest. 1693 H. Shreeves tr. Polybius Hist. I. iii. 165 Happening into this place, so commodious for every thing, he was willing they should want for nothing that might advance their Recovery. 1707 W. Funnell Voy. round World x. 281 If any do chance to come amongst them, and happen into their Hands. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 50 We might happen into some Bay or Gulph. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. vi. 157 Well; and so, I happens into that air store o' his'n. 1889 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 29 Oct. 2/3 Happening into a book auction sale in Boston. 1910 Everybody's Mag. May 655/2 We happened into them late on the night of Lincoln's Birthday, or, rather, early on the morning following. 1977 S. J. Perelman Eastward Ha! i. 22 An American tourist with pebble glasses and a ginger moustache happened into a luggage shop on Princes Street. 1999 E. Kelton Lone Star Rising (2003) 120 They just happened into me. I was headed the other direction, to Fort Belknap. (b) intransitive. to happen on (also to happen upon, now rarely to happen of): to come upon by chance or casually, to find or encounter by chance. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > find or discover [verb (intransitive)] > by chance findeOE to happen on1529 1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters ii. ix. f. 57^v/1 Ye myght happen vppon a dogge leche for lacke of knowledge of the connyng. 1533 T. More Apologye 5 [They] can not yet happen on them, but after longe sekynge. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxc The capitain..happened by chaunce of a fishar man. 1605 W. Camden Remaines ii. 2 If sometime you happen of an vncouth word. 1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xlv. 110 If one happen vpon a bag of Gold, Silver, Pearle, or precious Stones, it is held well gotten; provided it be cleanly stolne. 1701 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) V. 71 The Harwich..happ'ned upon a quick sand. 1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 33 When we were driving our Piles, we often happened on some of the large Stones. 1796 F. Burney Camilla II. 124 Why, I happened of a little accident about that..the broom knocked the ink down. 1820 J. Clare Let. 4 July (1985) 82 I think it the most pleasing book I ever happend on. 1883 W. H. Bishop in Harper's Mag. Oct. 715/2 ‘Pockets’ of precious metals happened upon by miners. 1888 H. R. Haggard Col. Quaritch xii I had just happened of him up a tree when you began to halloa. 1905 M. G. Peterson How to know Wild Fruits p. xiii If in a country drive or ramble we happen upon an unknown flower, it is a comparatively easy matter..to identify it. 2008 N. Wimmer tr. R. Bolaño 2666 i. 38 In these heady days, Pelletier happened on a piece written by the Swabian. (c) intransitive. Chiefly North American. to happen in: to go or come in casually; esp. to drop in unexpectedly or unannounced. Also to happen in with: to fall in with, to meet casually. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > visit [verb (intransitive)] > visit informally to call in1573 to drop in1609 to look ina1616 to come round1620 to go round1636 to put in1668 to go around1742 to happen in1749 to run in and out1779 to come around1822 to pop in and out1846 to happen in with1883 to stop in1904 stop1905 1749 J. Smith Jrnl. 22 Aug. in G. O. Seilhamer Hist. Amer. Theatre before Revol. (1888) i. 2 Joseph Morris and I happened in at Peacock Bigger's, and drank tea there. 1825 J. F. Cooper Lionel Lincoln II. xi. 288 Being there, I went out of the town with some company that I happened in with. 1845 C. M. Kirkland Western Clearings 116 He could hardly have ‘happened in’ at a more fortunate juncture. 1873 A. D. Whitney Other Girls xxxiii. 422 A friend or two happening in now and then to see them. 1883 W. Blaikie in Harper's Mag. Nov. 905/1 Just happen in with them at meal-time. 1922 Canad. Forum Oct. 16/2 One day..we happened in with a gang of four or five bigger boys. 1970 New Yorker 26 Sept. 35/3 To any of the girls who happened in before she fell asleep she explained that she was taking forty winks. 2010 L. R. Holben For All Saints 290 Whoever happened to come in and sit behind the desk assumed control until someone else happened in to sit. (d) intransitive. Chiefly North American. to happen along: to chance to come along or past. Also similarly to happen by (also around, back, over). ΚΠ 1832 Instr. Deaf & Dumb 75 Q. Are you able to call for assistance, if you are attacked? A. No; they (the watch) happened along. 1846 Amer. Whig. Rev. Jan. 20/1 ‘I wonder how he happened over this way,’ he continued. 1880 Columbia Spectator (Columbia Univ., N.Y.) 8 Oct. 52 The gale Tore from her derby hat the veil. I happened by, and saw it fly. 1882 L. L. Lynch Shadowed by Three liii. 730 You see that officious Mr. Bathurst had forestalled me, and Mrs. Richards had the grapes all ready; that's how I happened back. 1898 J. O. Kerbey Further Adventures of Boy Spy in Dixie ii. 28 I happened around to the Wells house..knowing very well that Geno, dressed in her most becoming of Summer toilets, would soon join me on the veranda. 1932 J. Buchan Magic Walking-stick vii. 71 They take no more concern in the parish than a gor-crow that happens over from Alemoor to pick up a pullet. 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard viii. 246 She had decided she would just happen back. 1998 Chicago Tribune 24 Dec. ii. 7/2 Planting yourself on the couch and watching anything that happens along. 2011 Independent 29 July (Viewspaper section) 3/1 The next chef, Jean-Paul Vinay, added a second star in 1983—the same year that Ferran Adria happened by. †4. intransitive. With to (also unto): to fall to the lot of someone; to come a person's way, to fall into the hands of a person. Also in figurative contexts. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > fall to one shootc1175 happen1477 to come in one's way1533 land1679 to come a person's waya1816 to drop into the lap of1962 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 71 I shall doo the vtterist of my power for to conquere hit, what som euer daunger or parill fall or happen to me in the conquest. 1518 H. Watson in tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle Tabula sig. Aa.iii Of the grete fortune that happened to Olyuer vpon the see, and how he and the Englysshe knyght were preserued from drownynge. 1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. i. 62* If temporall dominion or possession happen to the minister of the Gospell. 1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Life Agricola in tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. 240 His Pretorship also he passed ouer in the same sort, with the like silence: for none of the iudiciall places happened vnto him. 1629 Vse of Law 45 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light All such duties, Rents, Releases, Wardships, Copie-holds or the like, that had hapned vnto him. 1686 W. de Britaine Humane Prudence (ed. 3) xi. 53 So little a part of it, as that which will happen to my share. a1764 R. Lloyd Poet. Wks. (1774) II. 85 More compassion..Than always happens to the share Of the more cruel human fair. 5. transitive. Chiefly English regional (northern). To encounter casually or by chance; to incur, experience. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience ymetec893 findeOE meetOE counterc1325 overtakec1390 limp?a1400 tidea1400 runa1450 to fall with ——?c1475 onlightc1475 recounterc1485 recount1490 to come in witha1500 occur1531 to fall on ——1533 to fall upon ——1533 beshine1574 rencontre1582 entertain1591 cope with1594 happen1594 tocome1596 incur1599 forgather1600 thwart1601 to fall in1675 cross1684 to come across ——1738 to cross upon (or on)1748 to fall across ——1760 experience1786 to drop in1802 encounter1814 to come upon ——1820 to run against ——1821 to come in contact with1862 to run across ——1864 to knock or run up against1886 to knock up against1887 1594 (a1555) D. Lindsay Hist. Squyer Meldrum l. 834 in Wks. (1931) I. 168 Greit Conquerouris, I ȝow assure, Hes hapnit siclike aduenture. 1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy III. xxiv. 127 It never could get lame or happen any mischance, but it tickled my father's imagination beyond measure. 1805 Belville-house II. ii. 18 Mr. Dormer asked if he had been so unfortunate as to happen an accident. 1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. Happen, often used actively, in the sense of, To meet with, to incur. 1880 Ld. Tennyson Village Wife iv, in Ballads & Other Poems 47 Straänge an' cowd fur the time! we may happen a fall o' snaw. 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 Oct. 2/2 Men-of-war are constantly..happening mischances of one kind or another. 1892 R. C. V. Meyers in Speaker's Garland & Literary Bouquet xxxii. 212 What'll happen a man like me, That knows the world and can't be done By anybody under the sun. 6. colloquial (originally U.S. Music slang). a. intransitive. To succeed; to come off, be effective; to make an impression. Cf. it's all happening at Phrases 3. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] speedc1175 fayc1300 provec1300 flourishc1400 passc1425 prosper1434 succeedc1450 to take placea1464 to come well to (our) pass1481 shift?1533 hitc1540 walka1556 fadge1573 thrive1587 work1599 to come (good) speedc1600 to go off1608 sort1613 go1699 answer1721 to get along1768 to turn up trumps1785 to come off1854 pan1865 scour1871 arrive1889 to work out1899 to ring the bell1900 to go over1907 click1916 happen1949 1949 A. Shaw Vocab. Tin-Pan Alley in Music Libr. Assoc. Notes Dec. 44/1 A song happens..when the preparatory work results in a successful bid for popularity. 1962 Down Beat 8 Nov. 38 It sounded like they were all striving to create..but it didn't really happen. 1967 Crescendo Dec. 27/4 We could either go back to New York with a flop show, or try to stay over and make a band happen. 1971 Melody Maker 9 Oct. 18/5 The guitar solo didn't happen. 2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 13 Mar. ii. 30/1 When the East Village happened in the early 1980's, many white artists left the Bronx for Manhattan. 2006 ‘Touré’ Never drank Kool-Aid 58 I wanna hit that spot in niggers that be like, ‘Damn, that be happenin, man’. b. intransitive. To be exciting, lively, fashionable, or stylish. Usually in progressive tenses, as where it's happening, etc., and so sometimes difficult to distinguish from predicative use of happening adj. 3. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > [verb (intransitive)] > be full of pleasurable excitement (of places) jumpc1938 happen1955 1955 Down Beat 13 July 33/2 I don't think much of anything happens here. 1965 Back Stage 24 Sept. 4/4 Jill St. John decided London is where it's happening and will divide her time equally between Beverly Hills and the foggy, foggy dew from here on out. 1969 N.Y. Times 12 Apr. 7/2 (advt.) Meet Joe Colombo... He's what's happening. A modern Renaissance man, architect and painter as well as award-winning designer. 1988 Texas Monthly Nov. 185/2 Houston is where it's happening. 1999 M. Abergel Work your Stars! 141 You inevitably find your way to the hub of any industry. Where it's happening is where you like to be. 2010 S. Rendall tr. P. Bruckner Tyranny of Guilt vii. 169 To put it crudely, France is no longer where it's happening. The center of gravity has shifted. Phrases P1. do you happen to (also you don't happen to, etc.): used as a polite formula in questions (esp. requests). ΚΠ 1813 Minutes Evid. Sel. Comm. Commons East-India Co. 769 Do you happen to know whether there were many disputes or differences arising between the Chinese government and any of those persons? 1823 Ld. Byron Blues in Liberal 2 No. 3. 3 You don't happen to have the Review in your pocket? 1878 W. E. Barnes Only Farmer's Daughter Prol. i. 9 Mr. Lennox, do you happen to have any rat poison in your pocket? 1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase xxvi. 352 Do you happen to have a railway time-table on you? 1973 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer vii. 74 You don't happen to have any cigarettes? 2007 A. Theroux Laura Warholic v. 53 Do you happen to remember how one day just roaming around the countryside he spies..Zacchaeus. P2. U.S. colloquial (esp. in African-American usage). what's happening?: (as a greeting) ‘what's going on?’, ‘what have you been up to?’ Cf. what's the haps? at hap n.³ ΚΠ 1956 Tennessee Folklore Soc. Bull. 22 23 ‘What's happening, man?’—A common greeting. 1976 E. Bullins Home Boy 7 What's happenin', poppa stoppa? 1989 Observer 25 June (Colour Suppl.) 5/2 A customer will kerb-crawl until someone approaches and says something non-committal like ‘Hey, what's happenin'?’ 1995 P. Roth Sabbath's Theater 379 What's happenin', Mort? What's up wit dju '? 2011 M. Lavorato Believing Cedric 79 One of them greeted her with an offhand, ‘Hey, what's happenin'?’ P3. Originally Music slang. it's all happening and variants: there is much activity or success. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > there is much success [phrase] it's all happening1963 the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > acting vigorously or energetically [phrase] > full of brisk activity never a dull moment1889 it's all happening1963 1963 (title of film) It's all happening. 1966 Crescendo Mar. 2/3 ‘It's all happening’ was one of the more tiresome items in the pseudo-hip phrase books of the recent past. It seldom meant much while it was in fashion, but there has now arisen a situation which it describes exactly. For it really is all happening for Stan Tracey this year. 1967 Crescendo Feb. 19/1 It's all been happening at the Village Vanguard lately. 1977 J. Johnston Shadows on our Skin 36 Yep. To begin with it's awful..and then..suddenly it's O.K. Fantastic. It's all there. All happening. You could make a packet. 1991 J. Marsden Lett. from Inside (1992) 119 Soph got busted with some bombers this morning so it's all happening here. 2005 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 1 July 8/2 To steal a line from cricket's Mr Excitable Bill Lawry, when it comes to footy in the Sunshine State, it's all happening. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). happenadv. Brit. /ˈhap(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈhæp(ə)n/, Scottish English /ˈhap(ə)n/ Forms: 1700s– happen, 1800s happance (Yorkshire), 1800s– 'appen, 1800s– hap'm (Cumberland), 1800s– 'oppen (Derbyshire); also Scottish pre-1700 happin. Origin: Apparently formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: happen v. Etymology: Apparently < the present subjunctive of happen v. Compare mayhappen adv., perhappen adv., and also haps adv., mayhap adv. Scottish and English regional (chiefly midlands and northern). Perhaps, maybe. Now frequently introducing and modifying a statement. Cf. mayhap adv., mayhappen adv., perhappen adv. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > [adverb] > perhaps is wenc897 wen isc897 peradventurec1300 peradventurec1325 perchancec1350 uphapa1375 percasea1393 lightly1395 in casea1398 maybea1400 may chancea1400 may-falla1400 may-fortunea1400 may-tidea1400 perhapa1464 happen1487 perhapsc1520 percase1523 ablea1525 by chance1526 mayhap1533 fortunea1535 belikelya1551 haps1570 mayhappen1577 perhappen1578 possibly1600 not impossibly1667 ables1673 aunters1673 aiblins1720 p'rapsa1745 aunterens1825 mebbe1825 yes-no1898 yimkin1925 ja-nee1937 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 273 Happin [1489 Adv. hap] to vencus the gret battale. a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome (1926) I. 15 Sum that happin has mynd of pryd. a1586 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 160 Ane woman [th]at is fayr may happin be [B. is nocht happin] gude. 1790 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. 59 Weest happen git an Organ then. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Happen, used as an adverb, probably, perhaps. 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre III. xii. 304 She'll happen do better for him. 1865 T. Brierly in J. Harland Lancs. Lyrics 246 Happen the ice may let in. 1869 P. G. Hamerton Wenderholme xv Our Jacob's got something on his mind... He's 'appen fallen in love. 1903 A. Bennett Leonora viii. 241 Happen you'll come yourself, John? 1967 ‘S. Woods’ And shame Devil 118 ‘'Appen tha means well,’ he said, his speech suddenly broadened almost out of all recognition, ‘and 'appen tha's joost making a song and dance.’ 1995 K. Atkinson Behind Scenes at Museum (1996) v. 155 ‘'Appen she did,’ Lucy-Vida says phlegmatically. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.c1400v.1385adv.1487
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† happenadj.

happenv.

Phrases

happenadv.