Transpire has two common non-technical meanings – ‘to become known’ (It eventually transpired that the documents had been lost) and ‘to happen’ (A most unfortunate incident transpired as the guests were leaving the hotel). The use of the word in the second meaning is objected to by some traditionalists. There are no historical grounds for this, but it is argued, first, that transpire is simply a pompous alternative for happen or occur and, second, that in phrases such as what transpired at the meeting it is impossible to know which sense is intended. On these grounds, transpire is better avoided in the second sense