bechancev.
/bɪˈtʃɑːns//bɪˈtʃans/ 1. intransitive. To happen, fall out, chance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)]
becomec888
i-tidec888
falleOE
ywortheOE
i-limp975
belimpOE
i-timeOE
worthOE
tidea1131
goa1200
arearc1275
syec1275
betide1297
fere1297
risea1350
to come aboutc1350
overcomea1382
passa1393
comea1400
to come in (also to, on, etc.) placea1400
eschew?a1400
chevec1400
shapec1400
hold1462
to come (also go) to pass1481
proceed?1518
occura1522
bechance1527
overpass1530
sorta1535
succeed1537
adventurec1540
to fall toc1540
success1545
to fall forth1569
fadge1573
beword?1577
to fall in1578
happen1580
event1590
arrive1600
offer1601
grow1614
fudge1615
incur1626
evene1654
obvene1654
to take place1770
transpire1775
to go on1873
to show up1879
materialize1885
break1914
cook1932
to go down1946
1527 Bp. W. Knight in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. xxviii. 58 It may bechance that the king..may be right well content.
a1555 N. Ridley Wks. (1841) 376 Ye do know what hath bechanced unto my brother.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 61 All happinesse bechance to thee in Millaine. View more context for this quotation
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision I. iv. 18 My words fall short of what bechanc'd.
2. (with dative object.) To befall (a person).
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > happen to
tocomeeOE
limpc888
i-timeOE
alimpOE
comeOE
on-becomeOE
tidec1000
befallc1175
betidec1175
betimea1225
fallc1225
time?c1225
yfallc1275
timea1325
happena1393
to run upon ——a1393
behapa1450
bechance1530
succeeda1533
attaina1535
behappen1596
1530 W. Tyndale Expos. & Notes (1849) 329 Let whatsoever rebuke bechance my brother.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. G3 Let there bechaunce him pitifull mischances. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
† bechanceadv.
Obsolete.
By chance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > [adverb]
feringc1000
feringlya1300
by casec1300
chancefully1303
lotc1325
peradventurec1325
of chance1330
happilya1375
in hapa1375
upon hapsa1375
casuallyc1384
perchancec1387
chancely1389
by fortune1390
haplyc1390
by (also of) adventurea1393
percasea1393
adventurelyc1400
percase1402
accidently?a1425
adventurously1440
by (good, lucky, etc.) hap?a1450
accidentally1528
chanceably1559
bechance1569
chance1595
casual-wise1601
accidental1622
occasionally1622
fortuitouslya1652
contingently1668
by chance1669
chanceable1709
per-hazard1788
chance-wise1844
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 1073 At the last battayle..we bechaunce lost our souereigne Lorde.
c1570 in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 334 Were not bechance he had a man.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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v.1527
adv.1569