Obs. Forms: 4–5 chevaunce, 5 chy-, chevaunche, 6–7 chevance, 7 cheavance, chievance. [a. F. chevance the wealth that one has acquired, f. OF. chever to finish, f. chief, chef (chev-) head. Cf. ACHIEVE, ACHIEVANCE.
1. Success in acquiring wealth; fortune.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 275. Netheles men se pouerte … Full ofte make a great chevaunce And take of love his avauntage.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. v. 28. By their auarice & cheuaunce the sciences come to nought.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 348. Such chevance made the legat … that he got togither twelve thousand marks towards his charges.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXX. xlii. 770. Those … who happen to meet with some new good chevance [bona fortuna].
2. concr. Acquired wealth, fortune, estate.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 66. Alle my richesses and cheuaunche.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, vi. 23. Destructyue of theyr personis, honoures, goodes, and chyuaunches.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIX. iv. At Rome, a good garden … was thought a poore mans cheiuance; it went … for land and liuing. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 46. What tell you me of Pluto [= Plutus] and his chievance.
3. Raising of money. To make chevance: to raise money or funds. Cf. CHEVISANCE.
1538. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 400. He was not able to make provision for household; and therefore required the best mitre, the best cross, and another thing or two, to make chevance withal for provision.
1563. Foxe, A. & M. (1583), 1865. As al is gone, you would fain haue me make another cheuance with the Bishops lands.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 66. Against vnlawfull Chieuances and Exchanges, which is Bastard Usurie.
1645. Pagitt, Heresiogr. (1662), 269. You would make a cheavance on Church lands, [etc.].
4. Accomplishment, achievement.
1563. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 527/2. What a matter of howe great cheuance it is, wherein so many and so great difficulties do lie.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXII. 437 (R.). The vow made unto Mars, for the good cheevance of that war.
