perhaps
pronunciation
How to pronounce perhaps in British English:
UK [pəˈhæps , præps]
How to pronounce perhaps in American English:
US [pərˈhæps]
-
- Adverb:
- by chance
Word Origin
- perhaps
- perhaps: [16] The phrase by hap or by haps ‘by chance’ originated in the 14th century (hap ‘chance’, a borrowing from Old Norse, now survives in the derived happen). In the 16th century it was transformed into perhaps on the model of perchance [14] and the now obsolete percase [14], both borrowings from Anglo- Norman containing per ‘by’.=> happen, happy
- perhaps (adv.)
- 1520s, formed from Middle English per, par "by, through" (see per-) + plural of hap "chance" (see happen), on model of peradventure, perchance, etc. which now have been superseded by this word. Perhappons "possibly, by chance" is recorded from late 15c.
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Perhaps on the first go around with mortgage bonds .
- 2. Perhaps that 's not all that surprising .
- 3. Perhaps people have to be rewarded for citing wrongdoing . "
- 4. A huge question with perhaps no good answer .
- 5. Perhaps that 's the businessman in him .