Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Chance?

\Chance\ (ch[.a]ns), n. [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. [,c]ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. {Cadence}.] 1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personified. It is strictly and philosophically true in nature and reason that there is no such thing as chance or accident; it being evident that these words do not signify anything really existing, anything that is truly an agent or the cause of any event; but they signify merely men's ignorance of the real and immediate cause. --Samuel Clark. Any society into which chance might throw him. --Macaulay. That power Which erring men call Chance. --Milton. 2. The operation or activity of such agent. By chance a priest came down that way. --Luke x. 31. 3. The supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty. It was a chance that happened to us. --1 Sam. vi. 9. The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (O shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts. --Pope. I spake of most disastrous chance. --Shak. 4. A possibility; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him. So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune. That I would get my life on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on 't --Shak. 5. (Math.) Probability. Note: The mathematical expression, of a chance is the ratio of frequency with which an event happens in the long run. If an event may happen in a ways and may fail in b ways, and each of these a + b ways is equally likely, the chance, or probability, that the event will happen is measured by the fraction a/a + b, and the chance, or probability, that it will fail is measured by b/a + b. {Chance comer}, one who comes unexpectedly. {The last chance}, the sole remaining ground of hope. {The main chance}, the chief opportunity; that upon which reliance is had, esp. self-interest. {Theory of chances}, {Doctrine of chances} (Math.), that branch of mathematics which treats of the probability of the occurrence of particular events, as the fall of dice in given positions. {To mind one's chances}, to take advantage of every circumstance; to seize every opportunity.
\Chance\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Chanced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Chancing}.] To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation. ``Things that chance daily.'' --Robynson (More's Utopia). If a bird's nest chance to be before thee. --Deut. xxii. 6. I chanced on this letter. --Shak. Note: Often used impersonally; as, how chances it? How chance, thou art returned so soon? --Shak.
\Chance\, v. t. 1. To take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object. Come what will, I will chance it. --W. D. Howells. 2. To befall; to happen to. [Obs.] --W. Lambarde.
\Chance\, a. Happening by chance; casual.
\Chance\, adv. By chance; perchance. --Gray.