different between mayhap vs mayhappen

English

Etymology

From the phrase “it may hap”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?me?hæp/

Adverb

mayhap (not comparable)

1. (archaic, rare) maybe, perhaps, possibly, perchance:
   • 1871, Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, Chapter VI, [1]

     I'm one that has spoken to a King, I am: mayhap you'll never see such another […]

   • 1895, Fiona Macleod, "The Sin-Eater" in The Sin-Eater, The Washer of the Ford and Other Legendary Moralities, New York: Duffield & Co., p. 12, [2]

     Then I heard the rush, the stamping and neighing, of some young mares, pasturing there, as they raced to and fro, bewildered or mayhap only in play.

   • 1983, Peter De Vries, Slouching Towards Kalamazoo, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., Chapter 4, p. 50,

     Who would not adore Mom and admire old Ma Pettigrew? There is one of each on your street, the younger mayhap heading for the tribulations already unmurmuringly borne by the older.

Derived terms

• mayhaps

Anagrams

• yampah

English

Alternative forms

• happen (obsolete or dialect)
• 'appen (dialect)

Adverb

mayhappen (not comparable)

1. (obsolete or dialect) maybe, perhaps.
   • 1891, William Morris, The Story of the Glittering Plain

     […] they hastened up, and presently stood before that cavern's mouth with doubt and joy mingled in their minds; for now, mayhappen, they had reached the gate of the Glittering Plain, or mayhappen the gate of death.

Synonyms

• mayhap