mischance

American  

[mis-chans, -chahns] / mɪsˈtʃæns, -ˈtʃɑns /

noun

1. a mishap or misfortune.

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mischance British  

/ mɪsˈtʃɑːns /

noun

1. bad luck

2. a stroke of bad luck

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Etymology

Origin of mischance

1250–1300; mis- ¹ + chance; replacing Middle English mescheance < Old French

Explanation

Mischance describes a moment of bad luck, like when you have the mischance of slipping on the ice or catching a cold or losing your car keys. A mischance is a mishap or misadventure, or it can be plain old bad luck, like being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The word comes from an Old French word, mescheoir, where mes-, means "adversely" and -cheoir means "befall." A series of mischances might add up to a failed business, a lost Super Bowl, or just a really, really bad day.

Example Sentences

"Mischance rather than Misconduct hath been the cause of it," he asserted, explaining that he had made large purchases of land, that crops had been poor for three seasons and prices bad.

From George Washington: Farmer by Haworth, Paul Leland

Here had we now our Countries Honor, roof'd, Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present: Who, may I rather challenge for vnkindnesse, Then pitty for Mischance    Rosse.

From Macbeth by Shakespeare, William

Mischance, mis-chans′, n. ill-luck: mishap, misfortune: calamity.—v.i. to chance wrongly, come to ill-luck.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

XII What did Gilly of the Goatskin do in the Townland of Mischance?

From The King of Ireland's Son by Colum, Padraic

How the Miniature of Lady Oxford came by a Mischance.

From Parson Kelly by Lang, Andrew