See Also: peradventure(dictionary)

peradventure (iou)



peradventure adverb & noun. arch. exc. joc. ME.
[Old French per or par auenture (see PAR preposition, PER preposition, ADVENTURE noun); in 15-16 assim. to Latin.]
A. adverb.
= PERCHANCE adverb 1. ME-E17.
= PERHAPS adverb 2. ME.
if peradventure if it should chance that.
Lytton Unless, peradventure, their wives were comely.
= PERHAPS adverb 1. ME.
Hobbes It may peradventure be thought, there was never such a time. B. Breytenbach Peradventure they were the only two windows in the house.
b. noun. The possibility of a thing being so or not; (an) uncertainty, (a) doubt; a chance. Freq. in beyond peradventure, beyond all peradventure, past peradventure, past all peradventure. M16.
W. Cowper Some to be saved..others to be left to a peradventure. J. L. Motley This was now proved beyond peradventure. H. B. Forman The poem..ends with shadowiness and peradventure.
? Cf. PERCASE, PERCHANCE, PERHAPS.