Defn: Having the ground engraved or cut out in the parts to be enameled; inlaid in depressions made in the ground; — said of a kind of enamel work in which depressions made in the surface are filled with enamel pastes, which are afterward fired; also, designating the process of making such enamel work. —n.
Defn: A piece of champlevé enamel; also, the process or art of making such enamel work; champlevé work.
CHAMSIN
Cham*sin", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Kamsin.
CHANCE Chance, n. Etym: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. çad 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 personifed. 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. 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. 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 possibity; a likelihood; an opportunity; — with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance 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.)