Definition of happen to

The origin of the phrase "happen to" can be traced back to Middle English, around the 14th century. Back then, the phrase was "hap(p)en," which meant "chance" or "occurrence." The phrase was used in the sense of referring to an unexpected or casual happening. Over time, the phrase "happened" began to take on a more specific meaning, referring to past tense or completed actions. In response to this, a new phrase, "happen to," began to emerge to fill the gap in the English language for a more contemporary way of referring to an incident that occurred unintentionally or by coincidence. In Early Modern English, around the 16th century, the phrase "happen to" was primarily used to indicate the presence of someone by chance, with the Oxford English Dictionary's earliest recorded usage being "happen to" meaning "to meet or occur to someone." However, in the 19th century, "happen to" began to take on a more versatile meaning, referring to any unplanned or surprising event or occurrence. Today, "happen to" is a common English phrase used in a variety of contexts to indicate chance, coincidence, or unexpected occurrences. Whether it's used to describe meeting someone unexpectedly or encountering a surprising circumstance, "happen to" serves as a versatile and useful way of communicating the idea of probability or serendipity in the English language.