PERCHANCE

PRONUNCIATION: (puhr-CHANS)

MEANING: adverb: Perhaps; maybe.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French par cheance (by chance), from Latin per (by, through) + cadentia (fall), from cadere (to fall). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kad- (to fall), which is also the source of cadence, cascade, casualty, cadaver, chance, chute, accident, occident, decay, recidivism, and casuistry. Earliest documented use: 1350.

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PURCHANCE - buying power

PEERCHANCE - the American jury system