Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “chance” come from?

chance (Old French) comes from Vulgar Latin cadentia, from Latin cadēns, from Latin cadō, from Proto-Italic kadō, from Proto-Indo-European ḱad- — to fall.

chance (Old French): chance; fate; a throw of a die

Definitions

  1. chance; fate; a throw of a die

Ancestry of “chance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vulgar Latincadentiafalling
2Latincadēns—
3Latincadō—
4Proto-Italickadōfall, sink
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱad-to fall

Words derived from “chance”

  • chance
  • chancy
  • chaunce
  • chancer
  • unchancy
  • chanceth
  • chanciness
  • chanceful
  • wanchancy
  • chanceless
  • chancewise
  • chancest
  • chaunceth
  • bechance
  • chanceable
  • chancily
  • chanceably
  • wanchance
  • unchance
  • chauncest
  • chance
  • chance
  • шанс
  • chançard
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱad- →