bechance

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈtʃæns/ UK /bɪˈtʃɑːns/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to happen or befall by chance (archaic)

Whatever may bechance, I will not break my oath to you.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to happen or befall by... befall happen occur betide chance transpire

Word family

Derived forms bechanced

Related forms chance mischance perchance

Etymology

From Middle English bichauncen, from the prefix be- + chance. Chance derives from Old French cheance ('a falling, accident'), from Vulgar Latin *cadentia, from Latin cadere ('to fall').

be- Old English cadere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# bechance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈtʃæns/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈtʃɑːns/

## Meanings
1. to happen or befall by chance (archaic)

## Examples
- Whatever may bechance, I will not break my oath to you.

## Synonyms
- befall
- happen
- occur
- betide
- chance
- transpire

## Derived Forms
- bechanced

## Related Forms
- chance
- mischance
- perchance

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: be-
- Root: cadere

## Etymology
From Middle English bichauncen, from the prefix be- + chance. Chance derives from Old French cheance ('a falling, accident'), from Vulgar Latin *cadentia, from Latin cadere ('to fall').

## AI Etymology
Bechance is a verb meaning "to happen or befall by chance (archaic)". Historically, it is from Middle English bichauncen, from the prefix be- + chance. Chance derives from Old French cheance ('a falling, accident'), from Vulgar Latin *cadentia, from Latin cadere ('to fall'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: bechance is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English be- with Latin cadere. Close English family members include bechanced, chance, mischance, and perchance.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

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