Main Entry: ¹chance

Pronunciation: \ˈchan(t)s\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *cadentia fall, from Latin cadent-, cadens, present participle of cadere to fall; perhaps akin to Sanskrit śad- to fall off

Date: 14th century

1 a : something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause b : the assumed impersonal purposeless determiner of unaccountable happenings : luck <an outcome decided by chance> c : the fortuitous or incalculable element in existence : contingency
2 : a situation favoring some purpose : opportunity <needed a chance to relax>
3 : a fielding opportunity in baseball
4 a : the possibility of a particular outcome in an uncertain situation; also : the degree of likelihood of such an outcome <a small chance of success> b plural : the more likely indications <chances are he's already gone>
5 a : risk <not taking any chances> b : a raffle ticket

— chance adjective

— by chance : in the haphazard course of events <they met by chance>