- 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 : contingency2: a situation favoring some purpose : opportunity <needed a chance to relax>3: a fielding opportunity in baseball4 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> bplural : 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>
