happen
vb
1 intr (of an event in time) to come about or take place; occur
2 intr; foll by: to (of some unforeseen circumstance or event, esp. death), to fall to the lot (of); be a source of good or bad fortune (to)
if anything happens to me it'll be your fault
3 tr to chance (to be or do something)
I happen to know him
4 tr; takes a clause as object to be the case, esp. if by chance, that
it happens that I know him
adv
sentence substitute
5 (Northern English)
dialect
a another word for →
perhaps
b (as sentence modifier) happen I'll see thee tomorrow (C14: see hap1, -en1) See at occur
happen by , past, along, in
vb intr, adv
Informal (chiefly U.S.) to appear, arrive, or come casually or by chance
happen on , upon
vb intr, prep to find by chance
I happened upon a five-pound note lying in the street