▪ I. hap, n.1 arch.
(hæp)
Also (3 heppe), 3–7 happe, 4–6 hape, happ.
[Early ME. a. ON. happ neut., chance, hap, good luck. The same root is found in OE. ᵹehæp adj., fit, hæpl{iacu}c equal.]
1. Chance or fortune (good or bad) that falls to any one; luck, lot.
| c 1205 Lay. 3857 His hap [c 1275 heppe] wes þa wurse. Ibid. 4894 Brennes wes swiðe hende, his hap wes þe betere. 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 447 Gode cas & hap ynou..com to þe kyng. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 59 He had bien in his courte, whan his happe was more hard. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4671 Þai comyn to the cost..And þere hyt into hauyn as hom happe felle. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon clxi. 618 Alas what hap and desteny haue I. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 56 If you have the good hap to come into their houses. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 421 He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might find Eve separate. 1770 Waring in Phil. Trans. LXI. 379 It has not been my hap to meet with it elsewhere. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. iii, Remember then thy hap erewhile A stranger in the lonely isle. 1884 Besant Childr. Gibeon ii. iv, Sickness and suffering, birth and death, good hap and evil hap. |
2. (with pl.) An event or occurrence which befalls one; a chance, accident, happening; often, an unfortunate event, mishap, mischance.
| c 1205 Lay. 18215 He wes his hire-mærke in æuer ælche happe. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 43 A wonder hap which me befelle. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 273 b/1 That I be no more constreyned to haue soo many cursidnesses or ylle happes. 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 38 No redress to salue our awkward haps. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 154 ¶3, I entertained the Company..with the many Haps and Disasters. 1849 Geo. Eliot in Life (1885) I. 201, I have nothing to tell you; for all the ‘haps’ of my life are so indifferent. |
† 3. Good fortune, good luck; success, prosperity. Obs.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 187 Bisohte him help, and hap And wisdom. a 1300 Cursor M. 5564 Drightin þam sent bath happ and sele. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 383 Now kynde me auenge, And sende me happe and hele. c 1440 Gesta Rom. lxxi. 388 (Add. MS.) He had hape in all thing that he bought. 1557 Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 255 My hap is turned to vnhappinesse. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 471 Some have the hap; some stick in the gap. 1813 Scott Trierm. iii. Introd. iii, Be it hap, or be it harm. |
4. Absence of design or intent in relation to a particular event; fortuity; chance or fortune, considered as the cause or determiner of events. (Occasionally personified.)
| 1340 Ayenb. 24 Huanne þe lheuedi of hap heþ hire hueȝel y-went to þe man. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. i. 117 (Camb. MS.) Hap is an vnwar bytydynge of causes assembled in thingis þat ben don for som other thinge. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1773 Lucrece, Hap helpeth hardy man alday. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 710 Hit is bot happe of plaunte a tre to gete. 1534 More On the Passion Wks. 1311/1 Thynges accompted to fall vnder chaunce and hap. 1645 Ussher Body Div. (1647) 50 Nothing semeth to passe by meer hap or chance. 1888 Quiver May 504/2 By curious hap..[she] was actually located at ‘The Beeches’. Mod. As hap would have it, I went there also. |
† b. In phr.: by (through, in, on) hap: haply, by chance, casually; perchance, perhaps. Also, in same sense. on (upon, in) haps. Obs.
| 1388 Wyclif Josh. xiv. 12 If in hap the Lord is with me, and Y mai do hem awai, as he bihiȝte to me. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 66 (MS. B.) Þenne by hap sum grete drope of blod may be congelyde togedre. a 1400–50 Alexander 4936 Þou sall here apon happis..Þat neuire hathill vndire heuen herd bot þi-selfe. 1533 More Confut. Barnes viii. Wks. 775/1 Yf it fortuned them to fal vppon it by happe. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. ii. xi. 122 One may through hap..hit the naile on the head. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xii. 181 They must needs hit the mark sometimes, though not by aim, by hap. |
† c. in hap: in case. Obs.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 6801 (Trin.) In happe he haþ on bac nor bed Cloþ to hule him but þat wed. 1388 Wyclif Dan. iv. 24 In hap God schal forȝyue thi trespassis. |
▪ II. hap, n.2 north. dial.
[f. hap v.2]
A covering of any kind.
| 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc., Hap me with thy petticoat, Grant me for a hap that charming petticoat. 1787 Burns Brigs of Ayr 25 When the stacks get on their winter hap. 1846 Brockett's N.C. Gloss. (ed. 3) I. 209 Hap is a cover of any kind of stuff, but generally applied to one of coarse material. 1868 Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., Haps, over-clothes; rugs, shawls, great coats, etc. |
▪ III. hap, v.1 arch.
(hæp)
Also 4–7 happe, 5 hape.
[ME. happe(n, f. hap n.1: cf. ODan. happe to chance.]
1. intr. To come about by ‘hap’ or chance; to happen, come to pass, occur, chance. a. with the event expressed either by a n. or pron. preceding the verb as subject, or by a clause or infinitive following it, the verb being then generally preceded by it. Formerly with auxiliary be instead of have.
| 1340–70 Alisaunder 521 A Lioun..may lightlych driue Of hertes an holle herde as happes ilome. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 796 Happe how happe may, Al sholde I deye, I wole here herte seche. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. vi. 47 Wel may happe in heuene, Þat he worth worthier sette. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. ii. (1495) 103 Suche euyll shape..happyth selde in wymmen. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7553 As hit happit of þes hynd, herkyn a while! c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 86 Theyr fayne aventure that was happed to theym that daye. 1509 Fisher Fun. Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 306 The perylles..whiche dayly..myght haue happed vnto her. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. lxxvi. 97 It happed so well for hym, that it rayned all night. 1554–9 in Songs & Ball. (1860) 2 For nowe is hapt that I fearedde least. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. iv. 107 Then wherefore should I doubt: Hap what hap may, Ile roundly goe about her. a 1677 Barrow Serm. Wks. 1716 I. 22 What can hap to him worthy to be deemed evil? 1808 Scott Marm. iii. xiv, Thus oft it haps, that..A feather daunts the brave. 1880 Tennyson Battle of Brunanburh xv, Never had huger Slaughter of heroes..Hapt in this isle. |
† b. with an indirect object (dative). (Const. as in a.) Obs.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1634 To schewe to þe þorw my sawe, how þat ous is hapid. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 634 Cleopatra, In the se it happede hem to mete. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 5577 If any thing hap him amys. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. xxx, It may me happe a remedy to fynde. |
2. To have the hap, fortune, or luck (to do something, or with clause).
(With the indirect obj. of 1 b changed into the subject, thus ‘him (it) happed to come’, ‘he happed to come’.)
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xii. 114 Yf þou happe..þat þow hitte on clergie. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 100 (MS. B.) Ofte tymes alle þese causes happe to come togedres. 1566 T. Stapleton Ret. Untr. Jewel iv. 55 If the Skie fal, we may happe to catche Larkes. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. i. 9 He of the race of Troy a remnant hapt to find. 1714 Gay Sheph. Week, Thursday 8 A maiden fine bedight he hapt to love. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iii. xiii, Where'er I happ'd to roam. |
3. To come or go by chance; to light or chance on or upon. Cf. happen v. 4.
| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 205 If ye happe therupon Ye shal be riche men for ever. 1548 W. Patten Exp. Scotl. in Arb. Garner III. 92 Whose Grace..had happed upon a fellow like a man. 1590 Recorde, etc. Gr. Artes (1646) 154, I have a generall rule for the fraction that may hap in this worke. 1603 Drayton Bar. Wars v. xl, But he is hap'd into his earthly hell. 1718 F. Hutchinson Witchcraft xv. (1720) 168 He chanced to hap upon a Boy. 1762 Foote Orators ii. Wks. 1799 I. 217 Was it yourself that was happing about here but now? 1863 A. B. Grosart Small Sins Pref. Note (ed. 2) 14 [This book] I have not been fortunate enough to hap upon. |
† 4. To have luck (of some kind), to speed, or fare (well or ill). Obs.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 3340 Ȝe wite þei do wrong, þe worse schul þei happe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 284 Riȝte as agag hadde, happe shul somme. a 1400 Octouian 1437 Thorgh Godes grace well he hapte. 1601 ? Marston Pasquil & Kath. iii. 391 Your ship (the Hope-well) hath hapt ill, returning from Barbarie. |
† 5. ? To take one's luck. Obs. rare.
| 1575 R. B. Appius & Virginia in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 151 Therefore hap and be happy, hap that hap may. |
Hence happing ppl. a.
| 1593 Queen Elizabeth tr. Boethius (E.E.T.S.) 17 Thinkes thou that this world is wheeled by rash and happing chaunce? Ibid. 103 It coms not of nought, for it hath his own proper occasion, of which the happing and unlookt for luck, seems to haue wrought this hap. |
▪ IV. hap, v.2 Now only Sc. and dial.
Also 4–7 happe, 6 hop.
[Derivation unknown. Its distribution from East Anglia and Lancashire to Scotland seems to point to Norse origin.]
1. trans. To cover up or over.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 626 Þre mettez of mele menge & ma kakez, Vnder askez ful hote happe hem byliue. c 1400 Destr. Troy 12627 Fund a bag full bret..Happit at þe hede of his hegh bed. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. Prol. 38 The dasy and the maryguld vnlappit Quhilks all the nicht lay with their leuis happit. 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus i. 399 With hir awin hand scho happis me. 1570 Levins Manip. 27/18 Happe, to cover. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake, Kilmeny vi, Her bosom happed wi' flowerets gay. 1891 L. Keith Halletts II. ix. 189 How softly they [leaves] fell and happed the graves! |
† b. transf. and fig. Obs.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 9198 What wildnes, or worship, waknet my hert For to hap her in hert, þat hates my-seluyn? c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 214 This sk[e]p vnto the tree thow bynde & happe. 1576 Gascoigne Philomene (Arb.) 102 Stonie walles Which fast (in hold) hir hapt. |
2. To cover for warmth, as with extra clothing or bed-clothes; to wrap; to ‘tuck up’ (in bed).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 6802 (Gött.) He has nouþer on bac nor bedd, Clath to hap him. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 9017 He gaf hym drynke poysoun, And happed hym warme, and bad hym slepe. c 1440 York Myst. xviii. 195, I pray þe Marie happe hym warme. 1465 J. Paston in Paston Lett. No. 528 II. 235 Worsted for dobletts, to happe me thys cold wynter. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. (1895) 151 If he had them he should not be the better hapt or couered from colde. 1591 Nashe Prognost. 21 [He] shall hop a harlot in his clothes all the yere after. 1647 H. More Song of Soul i. i. xxiv, A lucid purple mantle in the West Doth close the day, and hap the Sun at rest. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 23 To Happe: to cover for warmth. 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (title) Hap me with thy Petticoat. a 1825 in Forby Voc. E. Anglia. 1863 Mrs. Toogood Yorksh. Dial., Hap up the children well in bed, it's varry cold. 1865 Kingsley Herew. xxiv, His chaplain hapt him up in bed. 1893 Stevenson Catriona 277, I took my cloak to her and sought to hap her in the same. |
† 3. To put or lay as a covering (on). Obs.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 655 His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer, And pite, þat passez alle poyntez, þyse pure fyue Were harder happed on þat haþel þen on any oþer. |
Hence happed ppl. a.; also hap-warm, a warm wrap or cloak (dial.).
| 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 17 Well happed sheepe are the best for an hard faugh. a 1774 Fergusson Hallow-Fair 4 Whan fock..Their winter hap-warms wear. |
▪ V. † hap, v.3 Obs.
Also 6–7 happe.
[a. F. happer to seize suddenly, a. Du. happen to snatch, seize.]
trans. To seize.
| 1574 tr. Littleton's Tenures 80 b, The feoffour entrethe and happethe the possession of the deede poll. 1611 Cotgr., Happer, to hap, or catch; to snatch or graspe at. 1613 Sir H. Finch Law (1636) 30 The Lord that first can happe the Wardship of his heire, shall haue it. |
▪ VI. hap, v.4 Sc.
Also 9 haup.
trans. and intr. To turn to the right: used in the management of horses in the yoke, and esp. as a call to a horse so to turn; opposed to wynd, turn to the left. Hence fig. neither to hap nor to wynd, to take neither one course nor the other.
| a 1745 W. Meston Poems (1767) 16 (Jam.) But he could make them turn or veer, And hap or wynd them by the ear. 1794 Scott Let. to Miss Rutherford 5 Sept. in Lockhart, In carters' phrase [she] would neither hap nor wynd till she got rid of him. 1816 R. Kerr Agric. Surv. Berwicksh. 503 (Jam.) Formerly, in speaking to their horses, carters employed hap and wynd in ordering them to either side, now mostly high-wo and jee. |
▪ VII. hap
Sc. form of hop; obs. form of heap.