perhaps

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   Used to say that something is possible but not certain; maybe.

   Perhaps John will come over for dinner tonight.

2. 2
   adv

   Used to make a suggestion or request sound more polite.

   Perhaps you could help me carry these bags?

From Middle English perhappes, perhappous, variant of earlier perhap (“perhaps, possibly”), equivalent to per + hap (“chance, coincidence”) + -s, on model of Middle English parchaunce (modern perchance).

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