Perchance

A word of elegance, possibility, and gentle uncertainty

/pərˈCHans/

Definition

perchance

adverb

Perhaps; possibly; by some chance.

Examples:

  • "Perchance we'll meet again someday."
  • "Could this be, perchance, the answer we've been seeking?"
  • "Perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub." —Shakespeare, Hamlet

Etymology

14th Century

From Middle English perchaunce

Anglo-French

From Old French par chance meaning "by chance"

Latin Roots

per (through) + cadentia (falling, chance)

Usage in Literature

"To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come."
William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1603)
"Perchance some day the memory of today
Will even bring delight."
Virgil, The Aeneid
"If perchance, reader, you doubt this story..."
Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy

About This Site

Welcome to Perchance.info, a celebration of one of the English language's most elegant words. "Perchance" carries with it centuries of literary tradition and a sense of graceful uncertainty that makes it beloved by writers and word enthusiasts alike.

This site exists to honor the beauty of this word—its sound, its meaning, and its rich history. In our modern world of direct communication, "perchance" reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful way to express a possibility is with a touch of old-world charm.