mayhap

English

Etymology

From the phrase “it may hap”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪhæp/

• Audio (US)

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Adverb

mayhap (not comparable)

1. (archaic, rare) Maybe; perhaps; possibly; perchance.
   • 1871, Lewis Carroll, chapter VI, in Through the Looking-Glass‎^[1]:

     I'm one that has spoken to a King, I am: mayhap you'll never see such another […]

   • 1895, Fiona Macleod, “The Sin-Eater”, in The Sin-Eater, The Washer of the Ford and Other Legendary Moralities‎^[2], New York: Duffield & Co., page 12:

     Then I heard the rush, the stamping and neighing, of some young mares, pasturing there, as they raced to and fro, bewildered or mayhap only in play.

   • 1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 80:

     "If you're after some money," said the millionaire, "move that cat out of the way." Catweazle shook his head. "Mayhap 'tis a fetch."

   • 1983, Peter De Vries, chapter 4, in Slouching Towards Kalamazoo, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., page 50:

     Who would not adore Mom and admire old Ma Pettigrew? There is one of each on your street, the younger mayhap heading for the tribulations already unmurmuringly borne by the older.

Derived terms

• mayhaps

Anagrams

• yampah