Haply
/ˈhæp.li/noun
By chance; perhaps.
Did you know?The word 'hap' means fortune or luck, linking 'haply' to ancient beliefs in fate's unpredictable power over our lives.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ĝʰebʰ-
“To have, to hold, or to possess, hinting at the roots of fortune.”
Old English
Old English
hǣp
“Luck or fortune, often implying an element of chance.”
Middle English
Middle English
hap
“Chance or fortune, evolving into expressions of luck.”
14th Century
Middle English
haply
“By chance, emerging as a more poetic form of speaking about fortune.”
Modern English
English
haply
“A term used to denote occurrence by chance, retaining its magical essence.”
Explore more surprising origins