Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Perhaps — Per*haps , adv. [Per + hap chance.] By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be. [1913 Webster] And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts viii. 22. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
perhaps — 1520s, formed from M.E. per, par by, through + plural of hap chance (see HAPPEN (Cf. happen)), on model of peradventure, perchance, etc. which now have been superseded by this word … Etymology dictionary
perhaps — [adv] possibly as it may be, as the case may be, conceivably, feasibly, for all one knows, imaginably, it may be, maybe, perchance, reasonably; concept 552 Ant. improbably, never, unlikely … New thesaurus
perhaps — ► ADVERB 1) expressing uncertainty or possibility. 2) used when making a polite request or suggestion. ORIGIN from PER(Cf. ↑per) + HAP(Cf. ↑H) … English terms dictionary
perhaps — [pər haps′] adv. [ PER1 + haps, pl. of HAP1] possibly; maybe … English World dictionary
perhaps — [[t]pə(r)hæ̱ps, præ̱ps[/t]] ♦ 1) ADV: ADV with cl/group (vagueness) You use perhaps to express uncertainty, for example, when you do not know that something is definitely true, or when you are mentioning something that may possibly happen in the… … English dictionary
perhaps — per|haps [ pər hæps ] adverb *** Perhaps can be used in the following ways: as a sentence adverb (making a comment on the whole sentence or clause): Perhaps we ve met before. as an ordinary adverb (before a number): He was perhaps 95. 1. ) used… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
perhaps */*/*/ — UK [pə(r)ˈhæps] / US [pərˈhæps] adverb Summary: Perhaps can be used in the following ways: as a sentence adverb (making a comment on the whole sentence or clause): Perhaps we ve met before. as an ordinary adverb (before a number): He was perhaps… … English dictionary
perhaps — per|haps W1S2 [pəˈhæps, præps US pər , præps] adv [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: per + haps, plural of hap chance (13 20 centuries) ( HAPPY)] 1.) used to say that something may be true, but you are not sure = ↑maybe ▪ Perhaps she s next door. ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
perhaps — adverb 1 possibly; maybe: This is perhaps her finest novel yet. | Perhaps she s next door. | Do you think Mark s upset? Perhaps. | perhaps not: Do you think I dare ask him? Perhaps not. 2 used to say that a number is only a guess: The room was… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
perhaps*/*/*/ — [pəˈhæps] adv 1) used for saying that you are not certain whether something is true I haven t seen them for months – perhaps they ve moved away.[/ex] There were perhaps a dozen women in the audience.[/ex] 2) spoken used when you are making a… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
