chance-medley
Americannoun
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a killing occurring during a sudden and unpredicted encounter.
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aimless and random action.
noun
Etymology
Origin of chance-medley
First recorded in 1485–95, chance-medley is from Anglo-French chance medlee
Vocabulary lists containing chance-medley
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Nature does this," and "Nature does that," forgetting entirely the fact that "Nature" is a mere personification and means either chance-medley or a Creator, according to the old dilemma.
From Science and Morals and Other Essays by Sir Bertram Coghill Alan Windle
Yea, and how like, that in the world's chance-medley This our exulting destiny had been slain, Though here it lords the world as a man his shadow!
From Emblems Of Love by Lascelles Abercrombie
We lay in a vast chance-medley, and never had any country greater need for care and caution in its councils.
From The Purchase Price by Emerson Hough
One is that Marryat had the true quality of the craftsman, as distinguished from the amateur or the chance-medley man who has a lucky inspiration.
From The English Novel by George Saintsbury
But the other side—the purely sentimental—let us not say psychological—side, is of far more consequence; for here we have not merely aspiration or chance-medley, we have attainment.
From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 From the Beginning to 1800 by George Saintsbury
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