peradventure adverb & noun. [p(ǝ)rǝd'vɛntʃǝ, pǝ:r-] arch. exc. joc. ME.
[Old French per or par auenture (see PAR preposition, PER preposition, ADVENTURE noun); in 15-16 assim. to Latin.]
A. adverb.
1. = PERCHANCE adverb 1. ME-E17.

2. = PERHAPS adverb 2. ME.
if peradventure if it should chance that.
■ Lytton Unless, peradventure, their wives were comely.

3. = PERHAPS adverb 1. ME.
■ Hobbes It may peradventure be thought, there was never such a time.
■ B. Breytenbach Peradventure they were the only two windows in the house.
b. noun. The possibility of a thing being so or not; (an) uncertainty, (a) doubt; a chance. Freq. in beyond peradventure, beyond all peradventure, past peradventure, past all peradventure. M16.
■ W. Cowper Some to be saved..others to be left to a peradventure.
■ J. L. Motley This was now proved beyond peradventure.
■ H. B. Forman The poem..ends with shadowiness and peradventure.

► Cf. PERCASE, PERCHANCE, PERHAPS.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲