Chanceful

/ˈtʃænsfl̩/ adjective

Definition

Full of chance, risk, or uncertainty; unpredictable or dependent on luck and fortune.

Etymology

From chance + -ful (Old English suffix -full meaning full of or characterized by). The -ful suffix has been used since Old English to create adjectives expressing abundance or quality.

Kelly Says

Medieval English loved '-ful' adjectives like 'chanceful' and 'perilous' because they were living in a genuinely chanceful world—no insurance, no safety nets, no knowledge of germ theory; every journey could be fatal by accident.

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