phenomena
chance
(1) chance \ˈchan(t)s\ n [ME, fr. AF, fr. VL cadentia fall, fr. L cadentcadens, prp. of cadere to fall; perh. akin to Skt śad- to fall off] (14c) 1 a : something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause b : the assumed impersonal purposeless determiner of unaccountable happenings : LUCK < an outcome decided by ~ > c : the fortuitous or incalculable elent in existence : CONTINGENCY 2 : a situation favoring some purpose : OPPORTUNITY < needed a ~ to relax > 3 : a fielding opportunity in baseball 4 a : the possibility of a particular outcome in an uncertain situation; also : the degree of likelihood of such an outcome < a small ~ of success > b pl : the more likely indications < ~s are he’s already gone > 5 a : RISK < not taking any ~s > b : a raffle ticket — chance adj — by chance : in the haphazard course of events < they met by chance >
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
change
(1) change \ˈchānj\ vb changed; chang•ing [ME, fr. AF changer, fr. L cambiare to exchange, prob. of Celt origin; akin to Olr camm crooked] vt (13c) 1 a : to make different in some particular : ALTER < never bothered to ~ the will > b : to make radically different : TRANSFORM < can’t ~ human nature > c : to give a different position, course, or direction to 2 a : to replace with another < let’s ~ the subject > b : to make a shift from one to another : SWITCH < always ~s sides in an argument > c : to exchange for an equivalent sum of money (as in smaller denominations or in a foreign currency) < ~ a 20-dollar bill > d : to undergo a modification of < foliage changing color > e : to put fresh clothes or covering on <~ a bed > ~ vi 1 : to become different < her mood ~s every hour > 2 of the moon : to pass from one phase to another 3 : to shift one’s means of conveyance : to shift to lower register : BREAK 5 : to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution < winter changed to spring > 6 : to put on different clothes < need a few minutes to ~ for dinner > 7 : EXCHANGE, SWITCH < neither liked his seat so they changed with each other > — chang•er n — change hands : to pass from the possession of one owner to that of another < money changes hands many times >
syn CHANGE, ALTER, VARY, MODIFY mean to make or become different. CHANGE implies making either an essential difference often accounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another < changed the shirt for a larger size >. ALTER implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity < slightly altered the original design >. VARY stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition < vary your daily routine >. MODIFY suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose < modified the building for use by the disabled>.
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
inevitable
in•ev•i•ta•ble \i-ˈne-və-tə-bəl\ adj [ME, fr. L inevitabilis, fr. in- + evitabilis evitable] (14c) : incapable of being avoided or evaded < an ~ outcome > — in•ev•i•ta•bil•i•ty \-ˌne-və-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ n — in•ev•i•ta•ble•ness \-ˈne-və-tə-bəl-nəs\ n
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
luck
(1) luck \ˈlək\ n [ME lucke, fr. MD luc; akin to MHG gelücke luck] (15c) 1 a : a force that brings good fortune or adversity b : the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual 2 : favoring chance; also : SUCCESS < had great ~ growing orchids > — luck•less \-ləs\ adj
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
circumstantial
cir•cum•stan•tial \ˌsər-kᵊm-ˈstan(t)-shəl\ adj (1600) 1 : belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances < a ~ case > < ~ factors > 2 : pertinent but not essential : INCIDENTAL 3 : marked by careful attention to detail : abounding in factual details < a ~ account of the fight > 4 : CEREMONIAL — cir•cum•stan•ti•al•i•ty \-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē\ n — cir•cum•stan•tial•ly \-ˌstan(t)-sh(ə-)lē\ adv
syn CIRCUMSTANTIAL, MINUTE, PARTICULAR, DETAILED mean dealing with a matter fully and usu. point by point. CIRCUMSTANTIAL implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space < a circumstantial account of our visit >. MINUTE implies close and searching attention to the smallest details <a minute examination of a fossil >. PARTICULAR implies a precise attention to every detail < a particular description of the scene of the crime >. DETAILED stresses abundance or completeness of detail < a detailed analysis of the event >.
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
serendipity
ser•en•dip•i•ty \ˌser-ən-ˈdi-pə-tē\ n [fr. its possession by the heroes of the Pers fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip] (1754) : the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; also : an instance of this
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
phenomenal
phe•nom•e•nal \fi-ˈnä-mə-nᵊl\ adj (1825) 1 : relating to or being a phenomenon: as a : known through the senses rather than through thought or intuition b : concerned with phenomena rather than with hypotheses c : EXTRAORDINARY, REMARKABLE syn see material — phe•nom•e•nal•ly \-nᵊl-ē\ adv
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
