chance

Etymology 1

From Middle English chance, cheance, chaunce, cheaunce, a borrowing from Old French cheance (“accident, chance, luck”), from Vulgar Latin *cadentia (“falling”), from Latin cadere (“to fall, to die, to happen, occur”). Doublet of cadence and cadenza.

noun

1. (countable) An opportunity or possibility.
   We had the chance to meet the president last week.
   It never even occurred to me in my fondest dreams that I might have the chance to help the sons and daughters of those students and to help people like them all over this country. But now I do have that chance, and I'll let you in on a secret: I mean to use it. March 15, 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson, 42:30 from the start, in Special Message to the Congress: The American Promise [on the Voting Rights Act], 3/15/65. MP506., Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
2. (uncountable) Random occurrence; luck.
   Why leave it to chance when a few simple steps will secure the desired outcome?
3. (countable) The probability of something happening.
   There is a 30 percent chance of rain tomorrow.
4. (in plural as chances) probability; possibility.
   Sometimes the name is changed because it is thought to be unlucky. If "Chua" is ill, the chances are that there are certain spirits who do not like his name, so the parents alter his name to "Mee," or something else, and then he gets well again. 1908, Ernest Young, “Chapter 4 The children”, in Peeps at Many Lands: Siam, London: Adam and Charles Black, page 16
5. (countable, archaic) What befalls or happens to a person; their lot or fate.
   Wild-visag'd Wanderer! ah for thy heavy chance! 1795, Robert Southey, The Soldier's Wife

adj

1. Happening by chance, casual.

adv

1. (obsolete) Perchance; perhaps.

Etymology 2

From Middle English chancen, chauncen, from the noun (see above).

verb

1. (archaic, intransitive) To happen by chance, to occur.
   It chanced that I found a solution the very next day.
2. (archaic, transitive) To befall; to happen to.
   […] while the King and Godwine sate at the table, accompanied with others of the nobilitie, it chanced the cupbearer (as he brought wine to the bourd) to slip with the one foote, and yet by good strength of his other leg, to recover himselfe without falling […] 1826, William Lambarde, A Perambulation of Kent
3. To try or risk.
   Shall we carry the umbrella, or chance a rainstorm?
   He does chance it in stocks, but he's always played on the square, if you call stocks gambling. 1890, William Dean Howells, A Hazard of New Fortunes
4. To discover something by chance.
   He chanced upon a kindly stranger who showed him the way.
5. (Belize) To rob, cheat or swindle someone.
   The car broke down a week after I bought it. I was chanced by that fast-talking salesman.
   Be prepared to engage in protests of all businesses nationwide who are violating the copyright act and chancing our members. 2017-03-22, Jules Vasquez, “Shyne Urges Artists To Protest Against Businesses Countrywide”, in 7 News Belize