mayhap

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈmeɪhæp/ UK /ˈmeɪhæp/ See IPA manual

adv

Meanings

1

adv
(archaic) perhaps; possibly

Mayhap the traveller will return before nightfall.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · (archaic) perhaps; possibly perhaps maybe possibly perchancemayhaps

Opposites

certainly definitely

Word family

Related forms happen hap haply mishap

Etymology

A contraction of the phrase 'it may hap' ('it may happen'), where hap ('chance, luck') comes from Old Norse happ ('good luck'). An archaic synonym for perhaps.

happ Old Norse

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Register & Style

# mayhap

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** ˈmeɪhæp
**IPA (UK):** ˈmeɪhæp

## Meanings
1. (archaic) perhaps; possibly

## Examples
- Mayhap the traveller will return before nightfall.

## Synonyms
- perhaps
- maybe
- possibly
- perchance
- mayhaps

## Antonyms
- certainly
- definitely

## Related Forms
- happen
- hap
- haply
- mishap

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: happ

## Etymology
A contraction of the phrase 'it may hap' ('it may happen'), where hap ('chance, luck') comes from Old Norse happ ('good luck'). An archaic synonym for perhaps.

## AI Etymology
Mayhap is a contraction of the phrase 'it may hap' ('it may happen'), where hap ('chance, luck') comes from Old Norse happ ('good luck'). An archaic synonym for perhaps. The form preserves a compact historical development in which the older wording and the present sense remain closely connected. As an adverb, it carries the sense "(archaic) perhaps; possibly", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old Norse happ. Related words include happen, hap, haply, mishap.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Register & Style

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mayhap

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