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Glite Dictionary
haply

haply

1 9.9
In a way that happens by chance and not by plan
  • adverb
  • /ˈhæpli/
  • Archaic
translation icon : quizás
  • The rain, haply, fell gently on the tin roof, creating a soothing sound.

Examples

  • During the French and Indian War, John Woolman visited the Lenni-Lenapes on the banks of the Susquehanna out of love, "that I might feel and understand their life and the spirit they live in, if haply I might receive some instruction from them, or they be in any degree helped forward by my following the leadings of Truth amongst them" (Journal 127).

    Academic text (1993)

  • Now off to the alembic, for there in a glass haply we may watch earth turn to water and water turn to air and air to flame and then down again; meanwhile, between each working, many things worth admiration.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • So haply are they friends to Antony.

    Antony and Cleopatra (1972)

  • So haply when I rove in some far vale.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Conceal me what I am, and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent.

    V for Vendetta (2006)

  • From the perceptible being of a thing, its nature manifest through sensible properties, haply we recognize its intent.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Already with thee, tender is the night, and haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne, clustered around by all her starry Fays

    Bright Star (2009)

  • While it was possible that a Romantic poet might welcome death at the hands of his beloved, unless I was seriously mistaken about the meaning of "alas," the thrust of the stanza ran counter to the sense I had assigned (with growing confidence) to "haply."

    Academic text (2011)

  • And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne, clustered around by all her starry Fays -- as pretty a picture of domestic bliss among the Immortals as bard ever penned.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Haply, she wondered if haply fate would bring them together again someday.

Synonyms

by chance
vshaply
66 2.3

Happening without planning or intending

is also used to mean perhaps or possibly rather than only accidental events
perchance
vshaply
  • Archaic
9.9

Maybe in older or more formal writing

is the same meaning but survives more often in poetic language than prose
mayhap
vshaply
  • Archaic
9.9

People use it to say maybe in old or poetic language

is the same sense but is recorded mainly in older literary usage
peradventure
vshaply
  • Archaic
9.9

Says that something might happen by chance

is used in both literary and archaic contexts rather than only archaic use

How Certain

certainly
∞ 1.0
probably
∞ 1.0
haply
  • Archaic
1 9.9
possibly
∞ 1.0
maybe
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

haply positive

Morphology

haply = hap (semi-transparent) = hap + ly

Built from 'hap' (chance) + '-ly' so the meaning is derivable in principle, but 'hap' is archaic/unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Haply comes from the old word hap, which means 'chance' or 'luck', plus the ending -ly meaning 'in a way'. A helpful way to remember it is that haply means 'by luck' or 'perhaps', and it is related to happy, which once meant 'lucky', so the origin explains why haply now means 'maybe' or 'by chance'.