mischance en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /mɪsˈtʃɑːns/ (UK)
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman meschance, Old French meschance, meschaunce.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) Bad luck, misfortune.
But let this same be presently perform'd / Even when men's minds are wild, lest more mischance / On plots and errors happen.
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:I write gaily enough, for there is no use in bewailing such a hopeless mischance.
1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 73, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
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(countable, uncountable) A mishap, an unlucky circumstance.
He doth miraculously protect from thieves, incursions, sword, fire, and all violent mischances […]
1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 3:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mischances | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
Synonyms
mischance · mishap · adversity · mishap · illfare · tough luck · misfortune · misluck · adversity · unluckiness · adverseness · misluck · disadventure · ill luck · bad luck · misfortune · unluck · hard luck · bad cess · misadventure · unfortunateness