English Language & Usage Asked by Micah Windsor on October 1, 2020
The OED entry for happen notes the following:
In Middle English fel it hap meant "it happened."
A search for the phrase reveals this OED entry and nothing else relevant. It is not clear how one would use this phrase in a conversational context. For example, could it be used in a sentence like the following?
Fel it hap that the man did dege.
i.e.:
It happened that the man died.
Or, was it used as an exclamation?
The man did dege! Fel it hap!
*All "Middle-English-y" example sentences here are of my own making, and I know nothing about Middle English.
How was this phrase used? Can you provide any notable examples from medieval works?
Thanks in advance!
Your first example seems correct to me. Here's a quote from ME compendium:
Þan fel it hap þat þei founde ful sone a grete bor.
[Middle English Compendium]
Another example in poetry:
In þat faire forest feiþely for to telle;
Wiþ alle his menskful meyné,
þat moche was & nobul;
Þan fel it hap, þat þei founde ful sone a grete bor,
& huntyng wiþ hound & horn harde alle sewede;
[Wikisource]
Then fel it hap that thei founde ful sone a grete bor
[Ancient Metrical Tales - Google Books]
Answered by Decapitated Soul on October 1, 2020
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