happ

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Happened p. pr. & vb. n. Happening. ] [ OE. happenen, hapnen. See Hap to happen. ] 1. To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out. [ 1913 Webster ]

There shall no evil happen to the just. Prov. xii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To take place; to occur. [ 1913 Webster ]

All these things which had happened. Luke xxiv. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

To happen on, to meet with; to fall or light upon. “I have happened on some other accounts.” Graunt. --
To happen in, to make a casual call. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. something that happens; an occurrence; an event.
Syn. -- occurrence, natural event. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Specifically: An event that is particularly interesting, noteworthy, or important. [ PJC ]

3. An artistic or entertainment event that is unconventional, sometimes discontinuous, designed to evoke strong emotions, and sometimes involving participation by the audience. [ PJC ]

adv. [ From Happy. ] 1. By chance; peradventure; haply. [ Obs. ] Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. By good fortune; fortunately; luckily. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preferred by conquest, happily o'erthrown. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In a happy manner or state; in happy circumstances; as, he lived happily with his wife. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. With address or dexterity; gracefully; felicitously; in a manner to insure success; with success. [ 1913 Webster ]

Formed by thy converse, happily to steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe. Pope.

Syn. -- Fortunately; luckily; successfully; prosperously; contentedly; dexterously; felicitously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Happy. ] 1. Good luck; good fortune; prosperity. [ 1913 Webster ]

All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended with enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of language. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some beauties yet no precepts can declare,
For there's a happiness, as well as care. Pope.

Syn. -- Happiness, Felicity, Blessedness, Bliss. Happiness is generic, and is applied to almost every kind of enjoyment except that of the animal appetites; felicity is a more formal word, and is used more sparingly in the same general sense, but with elevated associations; blessedness is applied to the most refined enjoyment arising from the purest social, benevolent, and religious affections; bliss denotes still more exalted delight, and is applied more appropriately to the joy anticipated in heaven. [ 1913 Webster ]

O happiness! our being's end and aim! Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Others in virtue place felicity,
But virtue joined with riches and long life;
In corporal pleasures he, and careless ease. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

His overthrow heaped happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]