Middle English Dictionary Entry
happen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | happen v.(2) Also hap(e. P.ppl. happed, hapt. |
| Etymology | ?Blend of lappen and OF happer, to seize; also cp. MDu. happeren, Fris. happe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To cover (sth.) over; enclose, imprison, or conceal with a covering; (b) to attach (sth.) by wrapping, make fast; also fig.; (c) to embrace; ~ in hert, love (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)60/34 : Heo openeþ hire Mantel, þat ladi so kuynde, and happeþ vs þer under.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)626 : Þre mettez of mele menge, and ma kakez, Under askez ful hote happe hem bylive.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)450 : For hit watz brod at þe boþem, boȝted onlofte, Happed vpon ayþer half, a hous as hit were.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)298 : When Cristes peple hath parte hym payes alle the better Then here ben hodirde and hidde and happede in cofers.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12627 : Þo wale kynges. Fund a bag full bret..Happit at þe hede of his hegh bed.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)20/10 : He happed his hede with clothis & lay still.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)858 : Þe scheperde keppid his staf ful warme, And happid it euer vndir his harme.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)655 : Þyse pure fyue [traits of character] Were harder happed on þat haþel þen on any oþer.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1224 : Ȝe schal not rise of your bedde..I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.214 : This sk[e]p vnto the tre thow bynde & happe.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9198 : What..waknet my hert ffor to hap her in hert þat hates me-seluyn?
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)112 : Sche schall me boþe hodur and happe, And in hur louely armes me lappe.
2.
To wrap (sb.), wrap up, clothe; also, clothe oneself.
Associated quotations
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Abp.& N.(Phys-E)p.91 : A womman..bar a child in hir arm, In swethel cloutes happid [Vrn: I-wrapped] warm.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)6802 : He has nouþer on bac nor bedd Clath to hap [Vsp: hil; Frf: hile; Trin-C: hule] him bot þat wedd.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)864 : Ryche robes..Sone as he on hent, & happed þerinne..Þe ver by his uisage [etc.].
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)2244 : With siche clothes als þay hade, Þay happed hir forthy.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)34/5 : Happe þe wele with schetis and clathes as þu were in a bathe.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)9017 : He gaf hym drynke poysoun, & happed hym warme, & bad hym slepe.
- c1450 Earth(3) (Lamb 853)15/29 : To hide þis erþe, to happe [vrr. wrappe, lappe] þis erþe, to him was cloþinge lente.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.188 : I pray yow ye woll send me hedir ij clue of worsted for dobletts, to happe me thys cold wynter.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)77.57 com. : He hade away..his folke..as shepe berand woull till mannys clathynge, that is, charite & goed werkis, that thaire saule is wele happid in.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)116/1 : Lord, what these weders ar cold! and I am yll happyd.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)128/369 : Me thoght he was lapt in a wolfe skyn. So are many hapt now namely within.
- ?a1500 This endurs nyght (Hrl 2380)9 : Sare sco soght, Bot fand sco nought To hap hyre sone Ihesu fro cold.