A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1610
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Chance, Chans, v. Also: chaunce, chanse, chanch(e; schans(h. [ME. chance, chanse, chaunce (Gower), f. Chance, n.]
1. intr. To come about by chance; to happen, occur, befall.(a) 1513 Doug. i. viii. 40.
To spy thai baid Quhou it stude with thar ferys, or chansyt eft 1562-3 Winȝet II. 32/22.
Gif it sal chanse as he hes spokin 1570 Satirical Poems xiii. 30.
We suld not haif sic thingis in admiratioun, As gif it wer ane new thing chansit of man 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 101.
The trubbillis quhilkis yesterday chansit betuix the Lord Seytoun and the Laird of Inuermarkie(b) 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 219.
Quhat euer chance, ȝe suld haue cheritie 1560 Ib. 667.
Betuix vs twa is chancit ane heuie cace 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 122.
He haistilie … past to the castell of Dunbar, thairin to remayne quhill better fortune chancit a1578 Pitsc. II. 291/15.
Thair chanceit to be maid … ane gret murthur vpone the haill protestanis a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxix. 106.
Howsoeuer with me chancis the case 1596 Dalr. II. 388/10.
Chancet agane at that time another thing, quhairof the peiple was suir persuadet, that els that thing vset not to chance
b. With it as subject, and followed by clause or inf. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1477.
Sa it chancit upon ane haly day, This burges went in his garding 1562-3 Winȝet I. 69/11.
As it may chanse that sum of our quæstiouns may appere … prolixt 1570 Inverness B. Rec. I. 182.
Gif it chances that the said Patrick … slaye ony blak fysche 1570 Leslie 31.
It chansit a wedge or slyce to flee fra ane of the gunnes a1578 Pitsc. I. 22/17.
Gif it sall chanche ws to continew ony fordar in this feid 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 18.
It chancit ye uar forrunn a prettie space
2. To happen to (do or be something). Usually of persons. 1542 Bk. Carlaverock II. 470.
The said Robert Lord Maxwell is laitlie … chancit and fortunat to be tane prisonar in Ingland 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 194.
Quhilk thai had nocht failyeit to haif done, in cais he had nocht chansit to cum in in the menetyme 1560 Rolland Seven Sages Prol. 114.
Ane vther roll I chancit in haind to take 1562–3 Rec. Earld. Orkney 116.
And in quhayis handis the landis [above mentionat] schansis to be owptanit 1568 Buch. Indict. 36.
The said erll … chancit of a theif to be hurt and woundit 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 260.
Ane peice of artalȝerie … chancit to licht upoun … lord Methwene 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 147.
Ione Ramsay chancit to call c1610 Lanark B. Rec. 122.
And wer not I schanshit to get the brokin sword in my hand he had felit me
b. ellipt. To happen to come, fall, be, etc. 1572 Grant Chart. 151.
All … herschippis … that mycht chans vpone ony off the saidis parteis a1578 Pitsc. I. 86/15.
Schir William Creichtoun … chancit neir be the same place quhair the bucheris lay a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxvi. 6.
He that lovis all his best Sall chaunce vpon the gudliest 1596 Dalr. I. 248/11.
Vndir this king chanced Ronnan, quha trulie did the dutie … of a haly … preist
3. To allow as one's lot. 1583 Edinburgh Testaments XII. 199.
Gif God chancis not that barne to cum to perfeccioun
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"Chance v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/chance_v>
