Meaning
To occur or take place.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kob-der. Proto-Germanic *hampą Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *hampijanąder. Old Norse *happader.? ▲ Proto-Germanic *hampijanąder. Old Norse *heppader.? Old English hæppander.? Middle English happen Proto-Indo-European *-o- Proto-Indo-European *-nom Proto-Indo-European *-onom Proto-Germanic *-aną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Old English -an Middle English -en Middle English happenen English happen From Middle English happenen, hapnen, augmented from Middle English happen (“to come to pass, happen”), perhaps from Old English hæppan (“to move accidentally, slip”) and/or from Old Norse *happa, *heppa, from Proto-Germanic *hampijaną (“to fit in, be fitting”). Equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) + -en (verbal suffix).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 13 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-06-14HADEINP
- 2026-05-16AEHNOPT
- 2026-02-02PYAEHIN
- 2025-03-28ADPOHEN
- 2025-02-18EYAPIHN
- 2024-12-31NATHEPY
- 2024-10-04PAOHENY
- 2024-03-03HAELNPT
- 2023-12-29AYEPNHI
- 2023-12-24PNAIHDE
- 2023-11-01HADEPLN
- 2023-07-30EYAPNHO
+1 earlier appearances in the archive.