happen-so

[ hap-uhn-soh ]

/ ˈhæp ənˌsoʊ /

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noun South Midland and Southern U.S.

chance; happenstance; accident: Meeting you today was pure happen-so.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

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Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

Origin of happen-so

First recorded in 1900–05

“Please, please do not permit this to happen here in Florida,” wrote Cris K. Smith of East Polk County.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But so-called jungle primaries are notoriously hard to predict or poll.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They now know that bad things can, and do, happen to those they love.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The possibility that the same outcome could happen another way -- namely a guy asks me out -- keeps me from taking action.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

How does it happen that citizens of modest means suffer as public sector unions gain?
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats|Daniel DiSalvo|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many so-called "humming tones" are given for practice, but in accepting them observe whether the foregoing principle is obeyed.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
That it is a reasonable and proper thing to ask our statesmen and politicians: what is going to happen to the world?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Greater mischiefs happen often from folly, meanness, and vanity than from the greater sins of avarice and ambition.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold more.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
At first startled, her second thought was that this would be the best possible thing which could happen.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson