King James Bible Dictionary

(Luke 10:31). "It was not by chance that the priest came down by that road at that time, but by a specific arrangement and in exact fulfilment of a plan; not the plan of the priest, nor the plan of the wounded traveller, but the plan of God. By coincidence (Gr. sungkuria) the priest came down, that is, by the conjunction of two things, in fact, which were previously constituted a pair in the providence of God. In the result they fell together according to the omniscient Designer's plan. This is the true theory of the divine government." Compare the meeting of Philip with the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26, 27). There is no "chance" in God's empire. "Chance" is only another word for our want of knowledge as to the way in which one event falls in with another (1 Samuel 6:9; Ecclesiastes 9:11).

CHANCE, noun

1. An event that happens, falls out or takes place, without being contrived, intended, expected or foreseen; the effect of an unknown cause, or the unusual or unexpected effect of a known cause; accident; casualty; fortuitous event; as, time and chance happen to all.

By chance a priest came down that way. Luke 10:31.

2. Fortune; what fortune may bing; as, they must take their chance

3. An event, good or evil; success or misfortune; luck.

4. Possibility of an occurrence; opportunity.

You ladyship may have a chance to escape this address.

CHANCE, verb intransitive To happen; to fall out; to come or arrive without design, or expectation.

If a birds nest chance to be before thee. Deuteronomy 22:6.

Ah Casca, tell us what hath chanced to day.

CHANCE, adjective Happening by chance; casual; as a chance comer.

CHANCEABLE, adjective Accidental; casual; fortuitous.

CHANCE-COMER, noun One who comes unexpectedly.

CHANCEFUL, adjective Hazardous.

CHANCEL, noun That part of the choir of a church, between the altar or communion table and the balustrade or railing that incloses it, or that part where the altar is placed; formerly inclosed with lattices or cross bars, as now with rails.

One who has judicial authority, literally, a "lord of judgement;" a title given to the Persian governor of Samaria (Ezra 4:8, 9, 17).

A state officer.
Ezra 4:8-9; Ezra 4:17
Cabinet

CHANCELLOR, noun Ordinally, a chief notary or scribe, under the Roman Emperors; but in England, in later times, an officer invested with judicial powers, and particularly with the superintendence of all charters, letters and other official writings of the crown, that required to be solemnly authenticated. Hence this officer became the keeper of the great seal. From the Roman Empire, this office passed to the church, and hence every bishop has his chancellor

The Lord High chancellor of Great Britain, or Keeper of the Great Seal, is the highest officer of the crown. He is a privy counselor by his office, and prolocutor of the house of lords by prescription. To him belongs the appointment of all justices of the peace; he is keeper of the kings conscience, visitor of all hospitals and colleges founded by the king, guardian of all charitable uses, and judge of the high court of chancery.

CHANCELLOR of an Ecclesiastical Court, is the bishops lawyer, versed in the civil and canon law, to direct the bishop in causes of the church, civil and criminal.

CHANCELLOR of a Cathedral, is an officer who hears lessons and lectures in the church, by himself or his vicar, inspects schools, hears causes, applies the seal, writes and dispatches letter of the chapter, keeps the books, etc.

CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer, is an officer who presides in that court, and takes care of the interest of the crown. He has power, with the lord treasurer, to lease the crown lands, and with others, to compound for forfeitures on penal statutes. He has a great authority in managing the royal revenues, and in matters relating to the first fruits.

CHANCELLOR of a University, is an officer who seals the diplomas, or letters of degree, etc. The chancellor of Oxford is usually one of the prime nobility, elected by the students in convocation, and he holds the office for life. He is the chief magistrate in the government of the university. The chancellor of Cambridge is also elected from among the prime nobility; he does not hold his office for life, but may be elected every three years.

CHANCELLOR of the Order of the Garter, and other military orders, is an officer who seals the commissions and mandates of the chapter and assembly of the knights, keeps the register of their proceedings, and delivers their acts under the seal of their order.

In France, a secretary is, in some cases, called a chancellor

In the United States, a chancellor is the judge o a court of chancery or equity, established by statute.

In scripture, a mater of the decrees, or president of the council. Ezra 4:8.

CHANCELLORSHIP, noun The office of a chancellor; the time during which one is chancellor.

CHANCE-MEDLEY, noun In law, the killing of a person by chance, when the killer is doing a lawful act; for if he is doing an unlawful act, it is felony. As if a man, when throwing bricks from a house into a street where people are continually passing, after giving warning to passengers to take care, should kill a person, this is chance-medley But if he gives no warning, and kills a man, it is manslaughter.

CHANCERY, noun

1. In Great Britain, the highest court of justice, next to the parliament, consisting of two distinct tribunals; one ordinary, being a court of common law; the other extraordinary, or a court of equity. The ordinary legal court holds pleas of recognizance acknowledged in the chancery writs of scire facias, for repeal of letters patent, writs of partition, and all personal action by or against any officer of the court. But if the parties come to issue, in fact, this court cannot try it by a jury; but the record must be delivered to the kings bench. Rom this court issue all original writs that pass under the great seal, commissions of charitable uses, bankruptcy, idiocy, lunacy, etc.

The extraordinary court, or court of equity, proceeds upon rules of equity and conscience, moderates the rigor of the common law, and gives relief in cases where there is no remedy in the common law courts.

2. In the United States, a court of equity.