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(chns), n.[F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. 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 un 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. 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. スポンサード リンク
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