Wordwyrt

happen

/ˈhæpən/HA-puhn
/ˈhæpən/HA-puhn

Meaningluck, chance

Common meaning: to take place

Journey through time

  1. Middle Englishhappen‘to befall’source
  2. Middle Englishhappenensource
  3. Englishmeaning shiftsto befall → to take placehappen‘to take place’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Middle English happen ‘luck, chance’.

Roots

  • happen Middle English “luck, chance”

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