adv
Meaning 1
Accidentally; by chance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
bechance
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/bɪˈt͡ʃæns/
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/bɪˈt͡ʃɑːns/
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rhymes with -æns
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rhymes with -ɑːns
verb
Meaning 2
To happen; chance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To happen (to); befall to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance (Santayana)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- It happens that today is my birthday
- These things befell
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: happen, befall
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: happen, hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out, come about, take place
verb
Meaning 5
become of; happen to
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He promised that no harm would befall her
- What has become of my children?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: befall, betide
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: happen, hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out, come about, take place
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epider. Proto-Indo-European *h1pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English chance English bechance From be- (“by”) + chance.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epider. Proto-Indo-European *h1pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English chance English bechance From be- + chance.