Middle English Dictionary Entry
paraventūr(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | paraventūr(e adv. Also -tour, -tor, -tre, peraventure, -tour, -tre, puraventure & paradventure, peradventur(e & paraunter, -tir, -tour, -tur, -tre, peraunter(e, -tur(e, -tre, -tir(e, parantere, -tir, perantur, -tre, & (?error) paunter. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Perhaps, perchance, possibly, maybe: (a) qualifying a word, phrase, predicate, etc.; -- often in an elliptical construction; (b) qualifying a clause; (c) leste ~, leste..~, lest, lest perhaps, lest perchance; if~, if..~, if, if perchance, if possibly; that ther..no..~, lest, perchance; up to the time if ~, until, perchance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)867 : Sire Erchebischop..þov most it do; Oþur þov schalt leose þine bischopriche, and per-Auenture þi lif.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)920 : He þe wole bere on honde, And bi-nime þe þi stat, and perantur bringue þe out of londe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1487 : Hii adde al ifoȝte..& hor folc aslawe in eiþer side, & peraunter hom sulf al so.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4204 : He wole þe limemele To drawe & uorsuolwe par auenture at one mele.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6358 : King Ban..rode after king Arthour To helpen him par auentour.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)4/38 : Mikill folke now in this world Ne is noght wele ynogh lered to knawe god almighten..And perauenture the defaitor in thaime That has thaire saules to kepe, and suld teche thame.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)302/329 : He..nul not hiȝe..Not ones par auntur in þe wike A pater noster to biseke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.105 : Commune penaunce is that preestes enioynen men communly in certeyn cas, as for to goon parauenture [vr. peraduentur] naked in pilgrymage or barefoot.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3915 : This dronken millere hath ytold vs heer How that bigiled was a carpenter, Parauenture in scorn, for I am oon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.563 : Whan sche knoweth..that thiself art envious, Thou schalt noght be so gracious As thou peraunter scholdest elles.
- (1400) Let.Hen.IV in RS 18.1 (Vsp F.7)24 : I clayme to be of kyn tyll yhow, and it peraventour nocht knawen on yhour parte.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)588 : Oþer þer werne þat toke more tom..Þat ȝet of hyre noþynk þay nom, Paraunter noȝt schal to-ȝere more.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.470 : Haukyng oþer hontyng yf eny of hem hit vsie Shal lese þer-fore hus lyue-lode and hus lif, parauenture.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.43 : So schollen thei..sonner peraventure [L forsitan] than thou woldest, or sonner than they hemselve wene.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)177b/a : Curcumia, i. þe rote of citri, perauenture [Ch.(2): happely; L forte] of celidoine.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)92/11 : And, if all it be possible þat a man may ga all aboute þe erthe, neuerþeless of a thowsand perauenture ane schuld noȝt do it in all his lyf.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)56 : Of all the trees..that thar is, we may ete at our liking, Out-tan on that is forbod paraunter for dred of deyng.
- (1437) RParl.5.439a : There fall among hem variance in opinions, peraventre half ayenst half.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)3/13 : And ȝit, þoruȝ ȝifte of God, as miche goostli likyng & perauenture more þei haue as clerkis of depe witt & of grete vndirstondynge.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)792 : Yf that thow Throwe on water now a stoon..hyt wol make anoon A litel roundell as a sercle, Paraunter [vr. Parauentre] brod as a covercle.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)2/16 : Presumpcyon is..demyng hym self perauenture strenger & mor hardyer, wyser & mor wittyer, or ellis mor better & morworthy þan eny oþer.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)4/9 : Afterward þey turnede a ȝen to here olde synnys, trowyng perauenture þt þe mercy of god was gret.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.239 : They schall it lakken hastily..Perauntre sonner þan þou woldest it seene.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)126/12 : I vndirstond such men as hase all þis ȝere be-fore, and parauntur all hure liff tyme, hath lien dede þorowe synne.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)6/33 : This yle was clepyd Albyoun, peraventure of the white Craggis and Clyffis abowt the see-bankys.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)37.17 : I sayd that thai ioy noght ouer me and neuer the latter that bifell perauntire til a mendment.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.406 : Þou..lettes not only deuocion off þiselffe, But perauenture off mo þan x or xij.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)424/122 : Þei heo bidde hire beden at churche, hire þouȝht is athom more; perauenture heo schal it bete þare.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2754 : Gostes..ofte in mannes forme wommen..comeþ to..& parauenture [vr. perantre] in þis manere On of hom in þis womman biȝet þis child.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7373 : Parauntre me him tolde more þan soþ were.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1994 : Þei his lord be lorn, Par auentour, þe gode man haþ biforn Holpen him.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)80.13 : Ȝif my folk had herd me and..gon in my waies, Par auenture ich had for nouȝt lowed her enemys.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)1867 : Pray God haue mercy of me, ffor þan perauenture send sall he Som of his aungels to þat tre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.20.11 : Abraham answerde..parauentour [WB(2): in hap; L Forsitan] þe drede of god is not in þis place.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 5.46 : Forsoth, if ȝe bileueden to Moyses, perauenture ȝe schulden bileue and to me; sothli he wroot of me.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1101 : He seth per aventure That be lordschipe and coverture He mai the more stonde stille, And use his ydelnesse at wille.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1670 : Dispeire yow noght, but haue in youre memorie, Paraunter [vr. perauntir] she may be youre purgatorie.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)26136 : Suche man peraunture miȝt him bring in mistrouþ & in mistrowing.
- a1400 Primer (StJ-C G.24)44 : Whanne men risen on us, paunter þey hadde al lyuynge swolwed us..parawnter water hadde swolwed us.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.43 : Þauh he be here þyn vnderling, in heuene paraunter He worth raþer receyued.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1850 : Who-so knew þe costes þat knit ar þer-inne, He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.60 : But peraunter, Jak, thou menest of religious ordre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1134 : He paravnter schal mow þanked be, Whan tyme comyth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.491 : But now, paraunter [vrr. parantyr, parauntour], som man wayten wolde, That every word..Of Troilus that I rehercen sholde.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5326 : Our Lord Goddes son almyghty Parantere has keped, in his body, Þe erres of his wondes sere.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)5/37 : Þou art not apt to turnementes or to wrastelinges; Perauenture þou hast abelte to honeste studie.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.8.8 : Peraventure yit undirstandestow nat that I schal seie.
- (1426) RParl.5.410a : Yf they did the contraire..thagh perauntre thei plesed hym as nowe..he shuld con hem thenne grete maugre therof, and trust hem the lesse.
- ?c1430(?1382) Wycl.Pet.Parl.(Corp-C 296)512 : Paraventure þes ypocrites sayen..þat þe reule to which þei make professioun is not straunge ne diverse.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)15/9 : If he knewe it, perauenture he scholde neuer hafe Ioye in his hert.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)3 : Ȝhe, perauenture to summe suche blamers..myȝte be seid what is writen.
- a1450(?c1350) Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)359 : Paraventur men halt me a fol To sig þat sot tal.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)362 : Peraunter [vr. perauntere], for this man ys nyce, He myghte doon yt.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)794 : Wonde þow not for no schame; Parauentur I haue done þe same, And fulhelt myche more.
- c1460 Dub.Abraham (Dub 432)250 : Parauenture in batayle or oþer myschef þou myȝtest dye.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)69/1 : 'Peradventure,' seyde Balyne, 'ye had bene bettir to have holde you at home.'
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.24.16a : Bute now disiris þou perauenture for to knowe how þou schuldist preyen.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.35 : Puraventure thou hatest thi servaunt; Puraventure thi wife she lovethe hym best.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)138.10 : Et dixi forsitan tenebre conculcabunt me..And i sayde perauntire myrknes sall down trede me.
- a1500(?a1425) Ipom.(2) (Hrl 2252)1846 : To morow, whan I þe duke see, Par auntur in suche plyte I may bee.
- a1500 Almyȝty godde conserue (Trin-C O.9.38)13 : Paraventor aftyr A ȝere or tweyne..Thys woord yn wreth thow schalt hyre Agayne.
- c1450 Eglam.(Clg A.2)68 : Ȝif I went to þat lady and told her so, Perauntur on skorn take hit wold scho.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.32 : Perauntre filled is in hire ysayes prophecy.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.3.3 : Of þe fruyt forsoþ of þe tree þat is in þe mydyll of paradise, comaundide us god þat we schulde not eten..lest perauentour [L ne forte] we dyen.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Esd.4.21 : Ȝee forfenden þoo men & þat cite be not bild, vp to þe tyme if par-auenture [L si forte] of me it were comaundid.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.9.54 : Abymalech..clepede anoon his sqwier & seiþ to hym, drawȝ out þi swerd & smyt me, lest par auenture it be seid þat of a womman I am slawyn.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.25 : Be thou consentynge to thin aduersarie soon..lest perauenture thin aduersarie take thee to the domesman.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 8.22 : Do thou penaunce fro this thi wickidnesse, and preie God, if perauenture this thouȝt of thin herte be forȝouun to thee.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.121 : He..hastily wente awey, þat þere schulde no lettynge peradventure come unto hym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.327 : Of the fruyt of the tree that is in the myddel of Paradys god forbad vs for to ete..lest parauenture [vr. parauentour] we sholde dyen.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1205 : The sely housbonde algate he moot paye..And if that he noght may, parauenture [vr. paraduenture], Or ellis list no swich dispence endure..Thanne moot another payen for oure cost.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)39/1 : We schulen fulfille þilke holownes wiþ fleisch or þat þe wounde be heelid, lest perauenture þat þer dwelle an holownesse vndir þe wounde.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.3.11 : Seie to hem, Thes thingis seith the Lord God, if perauenture thei heren, and resten.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)93 : Lest þat somme folk par auenture No knowleche hadde of thy persone aright, Thy name Pilat hath put in scripture.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.105/21 : And if perauenture, by oony case happenyng to them, þe forsaide thynges we may not warantiȝe, we shall make an Escaunge.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)475/15 : And yf peraventure he myght not warantiȝe, he and his heires shold yelde to the forsaid maister Robert..iiij mark.
2.
By chance, as it happens (happened, may happen), as fate would have it; as it were [quot.: Daily Work].
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7710 : Richard, is o neueu, brec þere is nekke þer to, As he rod an honteþ & par auntre is hors spurnde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2350 : Thanne out of his sepulture Ther sprong anon par aventure Of floures such a wonder syhte, That men ensample take myhte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3351 : Jason..seide, 'Of every worldes cure Fortune stant in aventure, Per aunter wel, per aunter wo.'
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.234 : Vpon Grisilde..Ful ofte sithe this markys sette his eye, As he on huntyng rood parauenture.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.893 : Dampned was this knyght for to be deed By cours of lawe and sholde han lost his heed -- Parauenture [vr. perauenture] swich was the statut tho.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)8.297 : Ich praye ȝow, peers, paraunter, yf ȝe meteþ Treuthe, telleþ to hym þat ich be excused.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1248 : Eke alle his folk hadde her chambres take, lik as Fortune peraunter hadde shape.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)28911 : If a doghty man for det, Par-auenture be in presun set..þe aw to do þine almus þare.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)140 : He..ne wan him mede, bot peraunter payn for losyng of tyme.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)129/29 : Ȝif ij persones ben at debate, & perauenture ben accorded be here frendes or be sum of here alliance, it behoueth þat euery of hem þat schull ben accorded drynke of oþeres blood.
- (1430) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.456 : The seid Lords, betwix whom puraventure such division shal falle..be assured to stond..to the Redresse and Rule of the Remenant of the Lords.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.12.9 : The xiij day of March fyl upon a Saturday, peraventure.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1106 : The chyldren han the gylt abouht..Thorgh ther fadrys gylt, allas, And thus peraunter stant the cas.
3.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1279) Nickname in LuSE 55138 : Rog. Paraventur.