Webster's English Dictionary

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chance

Cross references:
  1. happen                
 
1. chance \'chan(t)s\ n [ME, fr. OF, fr. (assumed) VL cadentia fall, fr. L 
   cadent-, cade]ns, prp. of cadere to fall; akin to Skt s'ad to fall 1a: 
   something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intentio n 
   or observable cause 1b: the assumed impersonal purposeless determiner of 
   unaccountable happenin gs : LUCK 1c: the fortuitous or incalculable element 
   in existence : CONTINGENCY)M 2: a situation favoring some purpose  3: a 
   fielding opportunity in baseball  4a: the possibility of an indicated or a 
   favorable outcome in an uncertain  situation 4b: the degree of likelihood 
   of such an outcome  5a: RISK  5b: a ticket in a raffle  - chance aj
2. chance vi 1a: to take place or come about by chance : HAPPEN  1b: to be 
   found by chance  1c: to have the good or bad luck  2: to come or light by 
   chance  1: to leave the outcome of to chance  2: to accept the hazard of : 
   RISK