[chance] n [ME, fr. OF, fr. (assumed) VL cadentia fall, fr. L cadent-, cadens, prp. of cadere to fall; perh. akin to Skt sad- to fall off] (14c) 1 a: something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause b: the assumed impersonal purposeless determiner of unaccountable happenings: luck c: the fortuitous or incalculable element in existence: contingency
2: a situation favoring some purpose: opportunity "needed a ~ to relax"
3: a fielding opportunity in baseball
4. a: the possibility of a particular outcome in an uncertain situation; also: the degree of likelihood of such an outcome "a small ~ of success" b pl: the more likely indications "~s are he's already gone"
5. a: risk "not taking any ~s" b: a raffle ticket -- chance adj -- by chance : in the haphazard course of events "they met by chance"
[2]chance vb chanced ; chanc.ing vi (14c) 1 a: to take place or come about by chance: happen b: to be found by chance c: to have the good or bad luck "we chanced to meet"
2: to come or light by chance ~ vt 1: to leave the outcome of to chance
2: to accept the hazard of: risk -- chance one's arm Brit: to take a risk