English

Noun

happener ‎(plural happeners)

1. (dated, 1960s-1970s) One who participates in a happening.
2. A person who makes things happen.
   • 1998, Russell Hoban, Riddley Walker, page 118,

     Goodparley says, 'O no and in deed he aint hes bettern clevver hes a mover hes a happener. […] '

   • 1998 November 2, “hate crimes”, in soc.singles.moderated, Usenet:

     How does (to take an extreme example) me saying to myself that somebody deserves what happens give any support to the happener?

   • 2009, Jan Doke, Broken Jar, page 167,

     Just as we who believe in God know that there can be no creation without a Creator, we also know that whenever something happens, there is always a happener.

3. A person to whom things happen.
   • 1984, Rex Burns, Strip Search: A Gabe Wager Mystery, page 23,

     "No way! He's not one of these people that do things. There's two kinds of people—the doers and the happeners. He's a happener. You know, things happen to him instead."

4. (often used in the negative) An event that is expected to happen; a plan that is likely to succeed.
   • 1999 November 21, “AGP Zero Tolerance Policy?”, in alt.gothic.pretentions, Usenet:

     The planned access via Netizen appears not to be a happener.

   • 2000 November 1, “Lord save me ...”, in alt.gothic.pretentions, Usenet:

     It's a happener. All systems are go.

   • 2003 November 23, “Photo id for flying between the UK and Ireland”, in soc.culture.irish, Usenet:

     You should be able to get your passport renewed at the embassy in London. If that's not a happener, try to get a temporary passport.

See also

• Happening on Wikipedia.Wikipedia