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Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains; we have received late intelligence.

Later; more recent; coming or happening after something else; -- opposed to former; as, the former and latter rain.

To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into. The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive. Locke. They shall light into atheistical company. South. And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth, And Lilia with the rest. Tennyson.…

That which happens without human design or forethought; chance; accident; hazard; fortune; fate. But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay. Spenser.

That which happens to a person; an event, good or ill, affecting one's interests or happiness, and which is deemed casual; a course or series of such events regarded as occurring by chance; chance; hap; fate; fortune; often, one's habitual or characteristic fortune; as, good, bad, ill, or hard luck. Luck is often used…

the result of one's efforts; to get, as profit; to make acquisition of; to have accrue or happen to one; as, to make a large profit; to make an error; to make a loss; to make money. He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time. Bacon.

walk; steady onward movement. With solemn march Goes slow and stately by them. Shak. This happens merely because men will not bide their time, but will insist on precipitating the march of affairs. Buckle.

Happening every minute; continuing; unceasing. [Obs.] Throwing themselves absolutely upon God's minutely providence. Hammond.

To happen by mischance. Spenser.

To befall, as ill luck; to happen to unluckily. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To happen unluckily or unfortunately; to miscarry; to fail. [Obs.] Stow.

To happen unluckily; -- used impersonally. [Obs.] "If that me mishap." Chaucer.

a contract, or for refusing to perform it. No mistake, surely; without fail; as, it will happen at the appointed time, and no mistake. [Low]

To happen or come to pass unfortunately; also, to suffer evil fortune. [Obs.]

Done, happening, payable, published, etc., once a month, or every month; as, a monthly visit; monthly charges; a monthly installment; a monthly magazine. Monthly nurse, a nurse who serves for a month or some short time, esp. one which attends women after childbirth.

Something strange or newly happened. It is no news for the weak and poor to be a prey to the strong and rich. L'Estrange.

Of or pertaining to the night, or to every night; happening or done by night, or every night; as, nightly shades; he kept nightly vigils.

The act of happening incidentally; that which happens casually; an incidental advantage; an occasional offering. [Obs.] "Tithes and other obventions." Spenser. Legacies bequeathed by the deaths of princes and great persons, and other casualities and obventions. Fuller.

A falling out, happening, or coming to pass; hence, that which falls out or happens; occurrence; incident. The unlooked-for incidents of family history, and its hidden excitements, and its arduous occasions. I. Taylor.

ion or to occasions; occuring at times, but not constant, regular, or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits; casual; incidental; as, occasional remarks, or efforts. The... occasional writing of the present times. Bagehot.