hap-

1. A casual occurrence, a happening, or a chance: Erin decided to take a hap by raising her hand when the teacher asked the class a question about Germany, because she lived there with her parents when her father was in the U.S. military.
2. Luck, good fortune: Too many people tend to start projects with haps instead of doing sufficient research to accomplish their objectives.

To exist or to take place by luck: Jan happed the vocabulary quiz by answering 95% of the questions correctly even though she didn't study the words.

1. To lack planning or order; to happen by chance or to be accidental: Monroe was haphazarding guesses as to what the weather would be like before he goes on his trip tomorrow.
2. To say or to decide what is thought to be true, without being certain about it: The author could only haphazard a prediction as to whether his novel would be accepted for printing by the publisher.

1. Relating to not having a plan; no order or thought out direction: Something that is done in a haphazard manner is not using a system or any regular procedure.

As a student, Jerry had a haphazard organization of books and papers on his desk which made it difficult to for him to focus on the subjects he was supposed to study for his classes.

2. Accidental; random; by chance: The haphazard experiment by the chemistry student proved nothing.

Pete's haphazard searches for words in the online dictionaries usually resulted in confusing definitions.

3. Etymology: formed from earlier English hap, "chance, luck"; from Old Icelandic happ, "chance, good luck" + hazard, "risk, danger, peril". © ALL rights are reserved.

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The approach to a task without planning or doing sufficient investigation: Jim's haphazardness in accepting the research project given by his teacher resulted in nothing but confusion and failure.

A reference to being unfortunate or unlucky: Karl was a hapless person during the first few days on his new job; then, during the following week, he was able to successfully perform his new responsibilities.

Ted, the hapless high-school student, has found no reliable sources of information that can help him complete his research assignment.

1. To take place; especially, without being planned or organized: As the proverb stated, "accidents will happen".

In such bad weather conditions, many accidents are bound to happen, sooner or later.

2. Etymology: probaby from Old English happenen, "to come to pass, to occur by hap, "chance, fortune".

1. An event or an occurrence: There have been some strange happenings going on during the stormy weather last night.
2. Etymology: formed from English happen, "occurrence, chance, luck" + ing.