v.
Pronunciation: ' ha-p ə n, -p ə m
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form: hap · pened ; hap · pen · ing \ ' hap-ni ŋ , ' ha-p ə - \
Etymology: Middle English, from hap
Date: 14th century
1 : to occur by chance ― often used with it <it so happen s I'm going your way>
2 : to come into being or occur as an event, process, or result <mistakes will happen >
3 : to do, encounter, or attain something by or as if by chance <I happen to know the answer>
4 a : to meet or discover something by chance < happen ed upon a system that worked ― Richard Corbin> b : to come or go casually : make a chance appearance <he might happen by at any time>
5 : to come especially by way of injury or harm <I promise nothing will happen to you>