a. Also β. 6–7 venterous. γ. 6 ventrus, 6–7 ventrous, 6–8 vent’rous. [Aphetic f. of ADVENTUROUS a. after VENTURE sb. and v.]
1. Of persons, etc.: Disposed to venture upon or undertake something of a dangerous or risky nature; willing to take risks or incur danger; bold, daring or enterprising in action or opinion; adventurous, venturesome. Also const. at, in, of, or with to and inf.
α. 1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., ¶ iii b. I waxed venturous, and like a confident fellowe amended my pase.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 63 b. I count those, which wil vndertake to speake of euerie matter, rather venturous than learned.
1675. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., III. (ed. 3), 328. Skenk a Frieslander and Sir Roger Williams a Welshman, two venturous men.
1694. Kettlewell, Comp. Penitent, 21. A most presumptuously venturous and daring Sinner.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 110. But I had no need to be venturous; for I had no Want of Food.
1800. Wordsw., Brothers, 275. Every corner Among these rocks, and every hollow place That venturous foot could reach.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., ii. I know I am but too apt to be venturous in action.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, xi. The directress was very prudent, but she could also be very venturous.
β. 1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, Pref. p. ii. It is nowe approoved by the venterous travellour … Martin Frobisher.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 94. Thou art not … more venterous to challenge the combatte, then I valiant to aunswere the quarrell.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 156. Some bold and venterous Empiricke, who made great boast of his deepe skill.
1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Tri., 101. Taking vpon him (as he is very venterous) to answer an argument.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), I. 256. The noble and venterous sparke, Phelim mc Tubill Oneylle.
γ. 1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 71. His ventrous manhood and valure.
1601. Weever, Mirr. Mart., C v b. All the Armie, ventrous, valorous, bold.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 249. Let a besieger of a City be too ventrous, and what perill ensueth.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 205. Those who at the Spear are bold And vent’rous.
1725. Pope, Odyss., III. 89. Savage Pirates seek thro’ seas unknown The lives of others, vent’rous of their own.
1747. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes (ed. 2), I. xxxi. 16. The golden Goblet let Him drain, Who vent’rous plows th’ Atlantic Main.
b. absol. with the.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, Ff ij. And nowe shalt thou trie it, that fortune most vsually fauoures the venterous.
1589. Nashe, Anat. Absurd., Wks. (Grosart), I. 35. The acts of the ventrous, and the praise of the vertuous.
c. Of things.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Abies audax, a venterous shippe.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. Eden, 27. But (sacred Pilot) thou canst safely steer My vent’rous Pinnasse to her wished Peer.
1634. Bp. Reynolds, Shieldes of Earth (1636), 41. Remember a Shield is a venturous weapon, a kind of suretie, which … receives the injuries which were intended to another.
1676. Shadwell, Virtuoso, I. i. Those venturous blossoms, whose over-hasty obedience to the early spring does anticipate the proper season.
1705. I. Watts, in Sotheby’s Sale Cat., 30 July (1902), 49. Accept of this first labor of the press, this ventrous Essay of Poesie in so Nice and censorious an Age.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 187. He … drives his venturous plough-share to the steep.
1804. Charlotte Smith, Conversations, etc., I. 151. The first bud whose venturous head The Winter’s lingering tempest braves.
1862. Calverley, Verses & Transl. (ed. 2), 28. He who erst with venturous thumb Drew from its pie-y lair the solitary plum.
2. Of the nature of a venture; marked or characterized by, attended with, involving, hazard or risk; hazardous, risky.
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), I. 114/1. Desperation,… which is wont in ventrous affaires to do much.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, III. ii. 75. It is venturous to set ones fortune vpon the brunt of one sole battell.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 22. The meer venturous and inconsiderate determining of youths to the profession of learning.
1709. Prior, Carm. Sec., 75. Bloody Wreaths in vent’rous Battels won.
1783. Crabbe, Village, I. 117. The tost vessel … Which to their coast directs its vent’rous way.
1840. F. D. Bennett, Whaling Voy., II. 186. Now but few seas are entirely free from the visits of ships occupied in this venturous service.
1862. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXIII. 277. Twenty years ago the manufacture and sale of artificial manures partook more of the character of a venturous speculation.
b. Marked by, full of, adventures.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, III. ii. And well his venturous life had proved The lessons that his childhood loved.
3. Arising from, indicative of, a readiness to encounter hazard or risk; bold, daring.
1584. Mirr. Mag., Epist. If their forfeats were wel knowen, I fere, thei do acts as ventrus.
1587. Turberv., Trag. Tales, 74 b. I thinke him such a one as dares Such ventrous parts to play.
1622. Bacon, Henry VII., 51. Meane men, who would make it their Master-piece of Credite and Fauour, to giue Venturous Counsels.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, III. (1662), 43. He was … knighted by the King for his venturous Activity.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), II. III. 346. Bear with my ventrous and bold Approach.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxvii. There was something of romance in Jeanie’s venturous resolution.
1855. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, VIII. 349. I scarce marvel much you took it for a venturous piece of spite.
1877. Bryant, Sella, 21. Her clear, calm eye Was bright with venturous spirit.
b. Of opinions, etc.: Daringly bold or original; going further than the evidence or facts appear to warrant.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 571. Contrarie then to this orthodoxall doctrine of the Fathers … are these ventrous and bold positions.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 57. One sentence of a ventrous edge, utter’d in the height of zeal.
1681. Baxter, Apol. Nonconf. Min., 5. Men’s uncertain and venturous reports.
1830. W. Taylor, Hist. Surv. Germ. Poetry, I. 333. Lessing … was distinguished by the venturous originality of his opinions.
1837. J. H. Newman, Proph. Office Church, &c., 138. Nothing is gained to the intellect; rather, something is lost by this venturous claim.
