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Matter vs Happen - What's the difference?

matter | happen |

As verbs the difference between matter and happen

is that matter is to be important while happen is to occur or take place.

As a noun matter

is substance, material.

As an adverb happen is

obsolete or dialect maybe, perhaps.

matter

English

(wikipedia matter)

Noun

  • Substance, material.
  • # (physics) The basic structural component of the universe. Matter usually has mass and volume.
  • # (physics) Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles. (Non-antimatter matter).
  • # A kind of substance.
  • # Written material (especially in books or magazines).
  • # (philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.
  • A condition, subject or affair, especially one of concern.
  • * (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
    • if the matter should be tried by duel
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • Son of God, Saviour of men! Thy name / Shall be the copious matter of my song.
  • * Bible, (w) xviii. 22
    • Every great matter' they shall bring unto thee, but every small ' matter they shall judge.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8 , passage=The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again;
  • * 12 July 2012 , Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift
    • The matter of whether the world needs a fourth Ice Age movie pales beside the question of why there were three before it, but Continental Drift feels less like an extension of a theatrical franchise than an episode of a middling TV cartoon, lolling around on territory that’s already been settled.
  • An approximate amount or extent.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before.
  • * (w, Roger L'Estrange) (1616-1704)
    • Away he goes,a matter of seven miles.
  • * (William Congreve) (1670-1729)
    • I have thoughts to tarry a small matter .
  • (obsolete) The essence; the pith; the embodiment.
  • * (Ben Jonson) (1572-1637)
    • He is the matter of virtue.
  • (obsolete) Inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.
  • (obsolete) Pus.

    • Synonyms

    * material * stuff * substance

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "matter") * a small matter - Somewhat, slightly * as a matter of fact - Actually * as a matter of law * back matter * baryonic matter * baryonic dark matter * degenerate matter * fecal matter * for that matter - In regards to * front matter * gray matter, grey matter * matterless * matter-of-fact * matter of record * mind over matter * mattery * no matter * organic matter * particulate matter * state of matter * strange matter * subject-matter * what's the matter * white matter

    Related terms

    * dark matter

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be important.
  • :The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.
  • :Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter .
  • *
  • *:As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=April 10, author=Alistair Magowan, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle , passage=Despite further attempts by Agbonlahor and Young, however, they could not find the goal to reward their endeavour.
    It mattered little as Newcastle's challenge faded and Villa began to dominate the game in midfield, and it was only Barton's continued sense of injustice that offered the visitors any spark in a tame contest.}}
  • (transitive, obsolete, outside, dialects) To care about, to mind; to find important.
  • *, Folio Society 1973, p.47:
  • *:Besides, if it had been out of doors I had not mattered it so much; but with my own servant, in my own house, under my own roof
  • To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.
  • *Sir (Philip Sidney) (1554-1586)
  • *:Each slight sore mattereth .

    • Derived terms

    * it doesn't matter * no matter - In spite of

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    happen

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To occur or take place.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)
    • , volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around.}}
  • To occur unexpectedly, by chance or with a low probability.
  • To encounter by chance.
  • * 1860 , , The Marble Faun , ch. 30:
    • Unexpectedly, in a nook close by the farmhouse, he happened upon a spot where the vintage had actually commenced.

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Derived terms

    * as it happens * happen along * happener * happeningly * it so happens

    Related terms

    * * happenstance

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (obsolete or dialect) maybe, perhaps.
    • English catenative verbs 1000 English basic words ----