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ng and carrying of articles; a hamper. Hanaper office, an office of the English court of chancery in which writs relating to the business of the public, and the returns to them, were anciently kept in a hanaper or hamper. Blackstone.

n the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like.

ppens or comes suddenly or unexpectedly; also, the manner of occurrence or taking place; chance; fortune; accident; casual event; fate; luck; lot. Chaucer. Whether art it was or heedless hap. Spenser. Cursed be good haps, and cursed be they that build Their hopes on haps. Sir P. Sidney. Loving goes by haps: Some Cupid…

Extra hazard; chance; accident; random. We take our principles at haphazard, upon trust. Locke.

By hap, chance, luck, or accident; perhaps; it may be. Lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts v. 39.

To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out. There shall no evil happen to the just. Prov. xii. 21.

By chance; peradventure; haply. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Good luck; good fortune; prosperity. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Shak.

To enhance. [Obs.] Lydgate.

A game of chance played with dice. Chaucer.

Liable to hazard or chance; uncertain; risky. Sir T. Browne.

To reduce the risk of a wager by making a bet against the side or chance one has bet on.

To meet or reach what was aimed at or desired; to succeed, -- often with implied chance, or luck. And oft it hits Where hope is coldest and despair most fits. Shak. And millions miss for one that hits. Swift. To hit on or upon, to light upon; to come to by chance. "None of them hit upon the art." Addison.…

d, the cross or crucifix, particularly one placed, in churches. over the entrance to the chancel. -- Holy rope, a plant, the hemp agrimony. -- Holy Saturday (Eccl.), the Saturday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; the vigil of Easter. -- Holy Spirit, same as Holy Ghost (above). -- Holy Spirit plant. See…

Whether; -- in dependent questions. Uncertain if by augury or chance. Dryden. She doubts if two and two make four. Prior. As if, But if. See under As, But.

To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves. To improve on or upon, to make useful additions or amendments to, or changes in; to bring nearer to perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage.

able to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining. All chances incident to man's frail life. Milton. The studies incident to his profession. Milward.

n bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount, etc.; to add to; to extend; to lengthen; to enhance; to aggravate; as, to increase one's possessions, influence. I will increase the famine. Ezek. v. 16. Make denials Increase your services. Shak.

at which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles. It was her chance to light Amidst the gross infections of those times. Daniel.

The act or process of inferring by deduction or induction. Though it may chance to be right in the conclusions, it is yet unjust and mistaken in the method of inference. Glanvill.