Middle English Dictionary Entry
mishappen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | mishappen v. Also -hap(pe; p.ppl. mishapped & mishappe. |
| Etymology | From happen v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To be unfortunate, have bad luck; meet with misfortune; be defeated in battle; also, make an error [quot.: EPlanets]; (b) impers. if that me mishappe, if I have bad luck; mishappede him neuer, he never met with misfortune; with hit: hit mishappede him, he chanced by bad luck; (c) in quasi-impers. construction: that him sholde ani-thing mishappe, that any misfortune might befall him.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.241 : Artaxerses myshapped [Higd.(2): ouercommen; L plagis acceptis] twyes, for he was ouercome in bataille in þe londe, and wolde assaie þe fortune and happe of þe see, [etc.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2886 : Salomon seith that he that hath ouer hard an herte, atte laste he shal myshappe [vr. myshapp] and mystyde.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)26/24 : Yif thow myshappe in this cas, i shal teche the a remedie.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.327 : Makomet & Mede myshappe [C: myshappen] shal that tyme.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.283 : Archa dei myshapped and ely brake his nekke.
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)217 : Many a man by wommen han mis-happid [vr. myshapped].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4967 : For þou myshappedest [vr. spede not; F venqus] y þe first ende, Now schaltow spede er þat þou wende.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1922 : Thurgh fauel haþ ful many a man mys-happid.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)24 : Yef Vortiger hadde be ther, they hadde not so myshapped.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1646 : Outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe, Or he moot sle me, if that me myshappe.
- ?a1400 Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)p.351 fn. : Arthure luffed it wele Inouh; Mishapped him neuer whan he it drouh.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1049/9 : Hit myssehapped hym to take a poysonde apple.
c
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)471 : Gawein was euer pensif for his vncle..that hym sholde eny thinge myshappe [F mesauenist] vpon the wey.
2.
To occur by misfortune; miscarry, go wrong; of an arrow: miss the mark, go astray.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4916 : And as it scholde tho mishappe, Als priveliche as evere he myhte He rod, [etc.].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.944 : Thogh this thyng myshapped [vr. myshappe] haue as now, Another tyme it may be wel ynow.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5543 : Fortune, myshappyng..makith..Men..to se Hym that is freend in existence.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13280 : Grace til hym wold non bytide, But euere mys happed on his syde.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1985 : Let hem not her wynge aboute hym clappe, Subside at him be sone, if ought mys happe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)957/12 : So hit myssehapped, he loved a jantillwoman a grete dele elder than I.
- c1475(a1400) Brut-1333 (Dc 323)6/9 : As this Brut schulde shete vnto an hert, his Arwe mys-happed..And so there Brut quelled his fader.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1342 : Be ware of comixtion, that no þing mishap.
- a1500 Arth.& M.(Dc 236)310/795 : For hit was myshapped so, In his herte hym was ful wo.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)194/26 : And it myshappen to wretchis, thei ber on honde that he hath deservid it.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1468 *Medulla (StJ-C C.22)53a/a : Infelicito, as: to myshappyn.
Note: Need date in (a)