Unfortunate accidents or mistakes that happen by chance, usually causing minor problems or embarrassment.
From Middle English 'mishappen,' combining 'mis-' (badly) and 'happen' (occur). First recorded in the 14th century to describe unlucky occurrences.
The word 'mishap' is one of English's gentler ways to describe disaster—compare it to 'catastrophe' or 'disaster,' and you see how language lets us soften the blow of bad luck!
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