n. [ OE. aventure, aunter, anter, F. aventure, fr. LL. adventura, fr. L. advenire, adventum, to arrive, which in the Romance languages took the sense of “to happen, befall.” See Advene. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. That which happens without design; chance; hazard; hap; hence, chance of danger or loss. [ 1913 Webster ] Nay, a far less good to man it will be found, if she must, at all adventures, be fastened upon him individually. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Risk; danger; peril. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] He was in great adventure of his life. Berners. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. The encountering of risks; hazardous and striking enterprise; a bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the issue is staked upon unforeseen events; a daring feat. [ 1913 Webster ] He loved excitement and adventure. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A remarkable occurrence; a striking event; a stirring incident; as, the adventures of one's life. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. A mercantile or speculative enterprise of hazard; a venture; a shipment by a merchant on his own account. [ 1913 Webster ] A bill of adventure (Com.), a writing setting forth that the goods shipped are at the owner's risk. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Undertaking; enterprise; venture; event. [ 1913 Webster ] |