a. [f. CHANCE sb. + -FUL; cf. the earlier CHANCEFULLY.]
1. Dependent on chance; casual, accidental. arch.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1616), 9. This is a chauncefull case, and not placed in the choice of such as learne.
1641. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 395. All which kinds, howsoever they may seem chancefull, are yet … directed by God.
1827. Hare, Guesses (1859), 189. Poetry is not an arbitrary and chanceful thing.
1855. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Hist., v. 138. We can see, in what else seems so chanceful, the hand that turns the wheel of fortune.
† b. Exposed to chance; risky, perilous. Obs.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 98. In this aduentures chauncefull ieopardie.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 410. To say somewhat in Gods defence from that chancefull rashnesse.
2. Full of chance or chances; eventful.
1849. Hare, Par. Serm., II. 192. We may too soon be carried away from him by the chanceful stream of life.
1850. Blackie, Æschylus, II. 48. I will … in plain speech my chancefull story tell.
1855. Browning, In Balcony, III. We two lived A chanceful time in waiting for the prize.
3. In comb.
1877. Blackie, Wise Men, 221. Chanceful-falling dice.
