happen
/ˈhæpən/
verb
Origin
Old Norse
happ — luck, chance, good fortune
Overview
Meaning Now
- To take place; to occur, especially by chance or without a specific plan.
- To experience or come across something by chance; to encounter or find accidentally.
Language path
Old Norse → Middle English → English
Earliest form
happnen
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word is derived from the Old Norse 'happ', which conveyed a sense of fortune or fate. In Middle English, the suffix '-en' was added to form a verb denoting the 'occurrence' of an event, shifting the focus from the concept of luck itself to the act of something taking place.
Evolution
- Old Norse
happ
“luck or chance”
- Middle English
happnen
“to occur by chance”
formation from the noun 'hap' with the suffix '-en'
- Modern English
happen
“to occur; to take place”
Connections
Word parts
hap
root
luck, chance
-pen
suffix
frequentative or infinitive marker
Related across languages
Old English
gehæp
fit, suitable
Icelandic
happ
chance, luck
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.