happenchance

English

Etymology

Apparently from happen +‎ chance, perhaps influenced by happenstance.

Noun

happenchance (countable and uncountable, plural happenchances)

1. (informal, originally regional) Coincidence.
   • 1955, Henry van der Schalie, quoting Goodrich, “Calvin Goodrich, 1874-1954”, in University of Michigan Summer Session 1955 Announcement‎^[1], page 12:

     It may be that some day I will find a respectable population of shells, but that will be mere happenchance.

Synonyms

• hapchance
• happenstance

Adjective

happenchance (not comparable)

1. Characterized by happenstance; chance; fortunate or unfortunate.
   • 2017, Iain MacKenzie, Irenaeus's Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching‎^[2], page 142:

     The advent of the Son in the flesh is no happenchance occurrence: it has a hinterland of deliberate and necessary preparation.

References

• “happenchance, n. and adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2013.