Word Meanings - CHANCE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

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,

Additional info about word: CHANCE

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/ , and the chance, or probability, that it will fail is measured by 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 , 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. (more info) to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. çad 1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personifed. 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 possibity; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance 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.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of CHANCE)

• Accident
• Chance
• fortuity
• disaster
• incident
• adventure
• casualty
• hazard
• contingency
• calamity
• misadventure
• mishap
• Adventure
• Incident
• crisis
• chance
• occurrence
• event
• enterprise
• undertaking
• experiment
• venture
• trial
• romance
• Coincidence
• concurrence
• correspondence
• contemporaneousness
• commensurateness
• harmony
• agreement
• consent
• Hazard
• Peril
• risk
• jeopardy
• danger
• imperil
• dare
• Hit
• Strike
• succeed
• reach
• mistake
• touch

Related words: (words related to CHANCE)

• ENTERPRISER
  One who undertakes enterprises. Sir J. Hayward.
• ACCIDENTALLY
  In an accidental manner; unexpectedly; by chance; unintentionally; casually; fortuitously; not essentially.
• MISHAPPEN
  To happen ill or unluckily. Spenser.
• PERILOUS
  1. Full of, attended with, or involving, peril; dangerous; hazardous; as, a perilous undertaking. Infamous hills, and sandy, perilous wilds. Milton. 2. Daring; reckless; dangerous. Latimer. For I am perilous with knife in hand. Chaucer.
• CHANCELLERY
  Chancellorship. Gower.
• HAZARDIZE
  A hazardous attempt or situation; hazard. Herself had run into that hazardize. Spenser.
• SUCCEEDANT
  Succeeding one another; following.
• CONSENTANEOUS
  Consistent; agreeable; suitable; accordant to; harmonious; concurrent. A good law and consentaneous to reason. Howell. -- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ness, n.
• TRIALITY
  Three united; state of being three. H. Wharton.
• PERILLA
  A genus of labiate herbs, of which one species (Perilla ocimoides, or P. Nankinensis) is often cultivated for its purple or variegated foliage.
• EXPERIMENTAL
  1. Pertaining to experiment; founded on, or derived from, experiment or trial; as, experimental science; given to, or skilled in, experiment; as, an experimental philosopher. 2. Known by, or derived from, experience; as, experimental religion.
• SUCCEDANE
  A succedaneum.
• EVENT
  1. That which comes, arrives, or happens; that which falls out; any incident, good or bad. "The events of his early years." Macaulay. To watch quietly the course of events. Jowett There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked. Eccl. ix.
• SUCCESS
  1. Act of succeeding; succession. Then all the sons of these five brethren reigned By due success. Spenser. 2. That which comes after; hence, consequence, issue, or result, of an endeavor or undertaking, whether good or bad; the outcome of effort.
• VENTURESOME
  Inclined to venture; not loth to run risk or danger; venturous; bold; daring; adventurous; as, a venturesome boy or act. -- Ven"ture*some*ly, adv. -- Ven"ture*some*ness, n.
• CONCURRENCE
  1. The act of concurring; a meeting or coming together; union; conjunction; combination. We have no other measure but our own ideas, with the concurence of other probable reasons, to persuade us. Locke. 2. A meeting of minds; agreement in opinion;
• EVENTILATION
  The act of eventilating; discussion. Bp. Berkely.
• ENTERPRISE
  1. That which is undertaken; something attempted to be performed; a work projected which involves activity, courage, energy, and the like; a bold, arduous, or hazardous attempt; an undertaking; as, a manly enterprise; a warlike enterprise. Shak.
• SUCCESSLESS
  Having no success. Successless all her soft caresses prove. Pope. -- Suc*cess"less*ly, adv. -- Suc*cess"less*ness, n.
• ADVENTURESS
  A female adventurer; a woman who tries to gain position by equivocal means.
• OUTPREACH
  To surpass in preaching. And for a villain's quick conversion A pillory can outpreach a parson. Trumbull.
• DISVENTURE
  A disadventure. Shelton.
• INCORRESPONDENCE; INCORRESPONDENCY
  Want of correspondence; disagreement; disproportion.
• IMPREVENTABLE
  Not preventable; invitable.
• PREVENTATIVE
  That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive.
• FOREREACH
  To advance or gain upon; -- said of a vessel that gains upon another when sailing closehauled.
• PRECONSENT
  A previous consent.