See Also: perchance(dictionary)
perchance(dictionary)

perchance (iou)



perchance adverb. arch. & literary. ME.
[Anglo-Norman par cheanse, Old French par cheance, formed as PAR preposition + CHANCE noun, with later assim. to PER-2. Cf. PERCASE.]
In a statement of fact: as it chances or chanced, as it happens or happened. ME.
= PERHAPS adverb 1. LME.
Shakespeare Hamlet To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream. G. Gissing Did she, perchance, understand him.
= PERHAPS adverb 2. LME.
H. James Pinnie looked at him askance..as if perchance he were joking.
? Cf. PERADVENTURE, PERCASE, PERHAPS.