What is "chance"

Chance \Chance\, a. Happening by chance; casual.

Chance \Chance\, adv. By chance; perchance.
--Gray.

Chance \Chance\ (ch[.a]ns), n. [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. [,c]ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personified.

   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.

   Note: 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.

   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.

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

   Note: 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."

   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 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.

   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.

5. (Math.) 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/a + b, and the chance, or probability, that it will fail is measured by b/a + 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 (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.

Chance \Chance\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Chancing.] To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation. ``Things that chance daily.''
--Robynson (More's Utopia).

If a bird's nest chance to be before thee.
--Deut. xxii. 6.

I chanced on this letter.
--Shak.

Note: Often used impersonally; as, how chances it?

How chance, thou art returned so soon?
--Shak.

Chance \Chance\, v. t.

1. To take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object.

   Come what will, I will chance it.
   --W. D. Howells.

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

c.1300, "something that takes place, what happens, an occurrence" (good or bad, but more often bad), from Old French cheance "accident, chance, fortune, luck, situation, the falling of dice" (12c., Modern French chance), from Vulgar Latin *cadentia "that which falls out," a term used in dice, from neuter Latin cadens, present participle of cadere "to fall" (see case (n.1)).\n

\nIn English frequently in plural, chances. The word's notions of "opportunity" and "randomness" are as old as the record of it in English and now all but crowd out the word's original notion of "mere occurrence." Main chance "thing of most importance" is from 1570s, bearing the older sense. The mathematical (and hence odds-making) sense is attested from 1778. To stand a chance (or not) is from 1796.\n

\nTo take (one's) chances "accept what happens" (early 14c.) is from the old, neutral sense; to take a chance/take chances is originally (by 1814) "participate in a raffle or lottery or game;" extended sense of "take a risk" is by 1826.

late 14c., "to come about, to happen," from chance (n.). Meaning "to risk" attested from 1859. Related: Chanced; chancing.

n. (given name male from=English), an American pet form of Chauncey, in modern usage also associated with the word chance.

1. n. a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances; "the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance" [syn: opportunity]

2. an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another; "bad luck caused his downfall"; "we ran into each other by pure chance" [syn: luck, fortune, hazard]

3. a risk involving danger; "you take a chance when you let her drive"

4. a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; "what is the probability of rain?"; "we have a good chance of winning" [syn: probability]

adj. occurring or appearing or singled out by chance; "their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their friendship"; "seek help from casual passers-by"; "a casual meeting"; "a chance occurrence" [syn: accidental, casual, chance(a)]

1. v. be the case by chance; "I chanced to meet my old friend in the street"

2. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome; "When you buy these stocks you are gambling" [syn: gamble, risk, hazard, take chances, adventure, run a risk, take a chance]

3. come upon, as if by accident; meet with; "We find this idea in Plato"; "I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here"; "She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day" [syn: find, happen, bump, encounter]

Chancé is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France.

Chance is a 2002 film, the directing debut of actress Amber Benson (best known from her role as Tara Maclay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Benson directed, wrote, produced and starred in this film. Many of Benson's co-stars from Buffy, including co-star James Marsters ( Spike), appeared in the film. It was estimated to cost $25,000.

As documented on Chance's official site, the cost of making the film ended up being more than triple the estimate. Though Benson originally thought that she would foot the bill herself, she decided to ask fans for support. Signed photos of Benson on the set of the film, as well as scripts and props, were sold to raise money.

Benson's production company, Benson Entertainment, distributes the movie on DVD and video.

• Running time: 75 Mins
• Filming Dates: March–April 2001

Chance is the name of two unrelated fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Chance is a novel by Joseph Conrad, published in 1913 following serial publication the previous year. Although the novel was not one upon which Conrad's later critical reputation was to depend, it was his greatest commercial success upon initial publication.

Chance is narrated by Conrad's regular narrator, Charles Marlow, but is characterised by a complex, nested narrative in which different narrators take up the story at different points. The novel is also unusual among its author's works for its focus on a female character: the heroine, Flora de Barral.

The narrators describe and attempt to interpret various episodes in the life of Miss de Barral, the daughter of a convicted swindler named Smith de Barral (though this character is famous in the world of the novel as a criminal, he may, at least at first, have been merely an incompetent banker). Miss de Barral leads a sheltered life while her father is prosperous, then must rely on the generosity of others, who resent her or have agendas for her, before she escapes by marrying one Captain Anthony. Much of the book involves the musing of the various narrators over what she and the Captain expected from this union, and what they actually got from it. When her father is released from prison, he joins them on ship, and the book heads towards its denouement.

Chance is an album released in 1980 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Chance is a masculine given name and a surname. The given name is of Middle English origin, meaning "good fortune". There are several variants. The surname is of Old French origin, from cheance, also Middle English chea(u)nce (meaning "fortune", "luck", "accident"). The oldest public record of the surname dates to 1310 in Essex. People with the name Chance include:

"Chance" was the fourth single from Scottish rock band Big Country's debut album, The Crossing.

"Chance" is the tenth episode in the television series Fear Itself on NBC. This episode was completed but not broadcast in the United States.

is the 5th single of the Japanese pop singer and songwriter Miho Komatsu under Amemura O-Town Record label. It was released 19 August 1998. The single reached #3 rank first week and sold 55,030 copies. It charted for seven weeks and totally sold 141,240 copies. This is first and only single which had highest rank in Oricon for first week of its release.

"Chance" is the third single by Act. It was released by ZTT Records in February 1988, but was quickly withdrawn. This may have something to do with the 12" mix containing an unauthorised sample of ABBA's " Take a Chance on Me". ZTT promptly released the band's fourth single " I Can't Escape from You" a month later.

Two mixes (the full-length 12" version and an instrumental mix) of B-side "Winner 88" were eventually released on the box set version of the 2004 reissue of Laughter, Tears and Rage. This also contained a previously unreleased remix of "Chance" itself, as well as the standard album and single mixes, but not the withdrawn version containing the ABBA sample.

The track opens with a sample of Ryan O'Neal's dialogue from the 1985 film Fever Pitch.

Chance was an American country music group composed of Jeff Barosh (vocals, fiddle, steel guitar, sax, guitar), Mick Barosh (drums), John Buckley (guitar), Jon Mulligan (keyboards) and Billy Hafer (bass). The group recorded one album for Mercury Nashville in 1985 which included the Top 40 singles "To Be Lovers" and "She Told Me Yes." Previously known in the south Texas area as "Texas Pride", they changed their name to "Chance" after securing a record deal and gaining national recognition in the mid-1980s. Keyboard player Jon Mulligan was killed by a drunk driver in 1987 on the way home from one of the group's local Texas concerts. Keyboardist Clay Hemphill filled the duty on the keys from 1987 to 1993 during the transition years from "Chance" to "Jeff Chance". Bill Hafer retired in 1993 to pursue his custom flight case business, "Hafer Case". Bruce Repka joined the band in 1993 on keyboards & steel. Fred Rice (bass) came aboard, but left a year later. Darrell Jozwiak filled the role as bass guitarist from 1994 until the band played their last gig together in October 1995.

Lead singer Jeff Barosh launched a solo career in the late 1980s - early 1990s as Jeff Chance and charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Shania Twain sang background vocals on his 1992 album Walk Softly On The Bridges. Barosh died on December 12, 2008 at the age of 53.

Chance is the eighth album by American soul and gospel singer Candi Staton. Singles released from the album included "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" (co-written by Patrick Adams and Wayne K. Garfield), and the title track, which became a top 20 R&B record. The album peaked at No. 23 on the US R&B Album chart and No. 129 on the Billboard 200.

Chance is the 23rd book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series and first published in 1996.

Spenser investigates the disappearance of the husband of mafia princess Shirley Meeker.

Chance is an upcoming American television series created by Kem Nunn and Alexandra Cunningham starring Hugh Laurie. The series is based on the book by Nunn of the same name and has been ordered straight-to-series on January 6, 2016 with a straight two-season-order, containing twenty episodes. It is set to premiere on Hulu on October 19, 2016.

Chance is a quarterly non-technical statistics magazine published jointly by the American Statistical Association and Taylor & Francis Group. It was established in 1988, and Taylor & Francis has published it since 2012. The magazine sponsors the blog "The Statistics Forum", which allows anyone to post their thoughts on probability and statistics.