Where does “chance” come from?

Chance comes from Middle English chancen, from Old French chance meaning "fall" or "outcome," from Vulgar Latin cadentia, from Latin cadere and cado meaning "to fall," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱad-.

chance (English): An opportunity or possibility; Random occurrence;...

Definitions

  1. An opportunity or possibility; Random occurrence;...

Ancestry of “chance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishchance
2Old Frenchcheanceaccident, chance, luck
3Vulgar Latincadentiafalling
4Latincadēnsfalling
5Latincadōto fall, to fall out
6Proto-Italickadōfall, sink
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱad-to fall

Words derived from “chance

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱad-
chance — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer