chance

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>

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