v. & adv.
v.intr. 1 occur (by chance or otherwise). 2 (foll. by to + infin.) have the (good or bad) fortune to (I happened to meet her). 3 (foll. by to) be the (esp. unwelcome) fate or experience of (what happened to you?; I hope nothing happens to them). 4 (foll. by on) encounter or discover by chance.
adv. N.Engl. dial. perhaps, maybe (happen it'll rain). as it happens in fact; in reality (as it happens, it turned out well).
[ ME f. HAP + -EN(1) ]