God knows what hath bechanced them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many of the everyday events which people observe and attribute to chance fall into the category described by Clark, as being in practice too complex for people to easily predict, but in theory predictable if one were to know the actions of the causal agents in great detail. At the subatomic level, however, there is much evidence to support the notion derived from Heisenberg's uncertaintly principle, that phenomena occur in nature which are truly randomly determined, not merely too complex to predict or observe accurately. Such phenomena, however, are observed only with one or a very small number of subatomic particles. When the probabilities of observed events are determined by the behavior of aggregates of millions of particles, the variations due to such quantum indeterminacy becomes so small as to be unobservable even over billions of repetitions, and may therefore be ignored in practical situations; such variations are so improbable that it would be irrational to condition anything of consequence upon the occurrence of such an improbable event. A clever experimenter, nevertheless, may contrive a system where a very visible event (such as the dynamiting of a building) depends on the occurrence of a truly chance subatomic event (such as the disintegration of a single radioactive nucleus). In such a contrived situation, one may accurately speak of an event determined by chance, in the sense of a random occurrence completely unpredictable, at least as to time. [ PJC ]

Any society into which chance might throw him. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

That power
Which erring men call Chance. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The operation or activity of such agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

By chance a priest came down that way. Luke x. 31. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the field of observation, chance favors only the mind that is prepared. Louis Pasteur. [ PJC ]

This quotation is usually found in the form "Chance favors the prepared mind." It is a common rejoinder to the assertion that a scientist was "lucky" to have made some particular discovery because of unanticipated factors. A related quotation, from the Nobel-Prize-winning chemist R. B. Woodward, is that "A scientist has to work wery hard to get to the point where he can be lucky." [ PJC ]

It was a chance that happened to us. 1 Sam. vi. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts,
And wins (O shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

I spake of most disastrous chance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A possibility; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Math.) Probability. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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/a + b, and the chance, or probability, that it will fail is measured by b/a + b. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Math.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a bird's nest chance to be before thee. Deut. xxii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

I chanced on this letter. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Often used impersonally; as, how chances it? [ 1913 Webster ]

How chance, thou art returned so soon? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Come what will, I will chance it. W. D. Howells. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To befall; to happen to. [ Obs. ] W. Lambarde. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chancel aisle (Arch.), the aisle which passes on either side of or around the chancel. --
Chancel arch (Arch.), the arch which spans the main opening, leading to the chancel. --
Chancel casement, the principal window in a chancel. Tennyson. --
Chancel table, the communion table. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The chancellor was originally a chief scribe or secretary under the Roman emperors, but afterward was invested with judicial powers, and had superintendence over the other officers of the empire. From the Roman empire this office passed to the church, and every bishop has his chancellor, the principal judge of his consistory. In later times, in most countries of Europe, the chancellor was a high officer of state, keeper of the great seal of the kingdom, and having the supervision of all charters, and like public instruments of the crown, which were authenticated in the most solemn manner. In France a secretary is in some cases called a chancellor. In Scotland, the appellation is given to the foreman of a jury, or assize. In the present German empire, the chancellor is the president of the federal council and the head of the imperial administration. In the United States, the title is given to certain judges of courts of chancery or equity, established by the statutes of separate States. Blackstone. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chancellor of a bishop or
Chancellor of a diocese (R. C. Ch. & ch. of Eng.), a law officer appointed to hold the bishop's court in his diocese, and to assist him in matter of ecclesiastical law. --
Chancellor of a cathedral, one of the four chief dignitaries of the cathedrals of the old foundation, and an officer whose duties are chiefly educational, with special reference to the cultivation of theology. --
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, an officer before whom, or his deputy, the court of the duchy chamber of Lancaster is held. This is a special jurisdiction. --
Chancellor of a university, the chief officer of a collegiate body. In Oxford, he is elected for life; in Cambridge, for a term of years; and his office is honorary, the chief duties of it devolving on the vice chancellor. --
Chancellor of the exchequer, a member of the British cabinet upon whom devolves the charge of the public income and expenditure as the highest finance minister of the government. --
Chancellor of the order of the Garter (or other military orders), an officer who seals the commissions and mandates of the chapter and assembly of the knights, keeps the register of their proceedings, and delivers their acts under the seal of their order. --
Lord high chancellor of England, the presiding judge in the court of chancery, the highest judicial officer of the crown, and the first lay person of the state after the blood royal. He is created chancellor by the delivery into his custody of the great seal, of which he becomes keeper. He is privy counselor by his office, and prolocutor of the House of Lords by prescription. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens in defending one's self against assault. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Luck; chance; accident. Milton. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the Unites States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in equity. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A court of chancery, so far as it is a court of equity, in the English and American sense, may be generally, if not precisely, described as one having jurisdiction in cases of rights, recognized and protected by the municipal jurisprudence, where a plain, adequate, and complete remedy can not be had in the courts of common law. In some of the American States, jurisdiction at law and in equity centers in the same tribunal. The courts of the United States also have jurisdiction both at law and in equity, and in all such cases they exercise their jurisdiction, as courts of law, or as courts of equity, as the subject of adjudication may require. In others of the American States, the courts that administer equity are distinct tribunals, having their appropriate judicial officers, and it is to the latter that the appellation courts of chancery is usually applied; but, in American law, the terms equity and court of equity are more frequently employed than the corresponding terms chancery and court of chancery. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inns of chancery. See under Inn. --
To get (or to hold) In chancery (Boxing), to get the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will; hence, to have wholly in One's power. The allusion is to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court, where he was helpless, while the lawyers lived upon his estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Never come mischance between us twain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Calamity; misfortune; misadventure; mishap; infelicity; disaster. See Calamity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A silent, stupid person. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Boys can't sit mum-chance always. J. H. Ewing. [ 1913 Webster ]