A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1605
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Par-, Perchance, -chans(e, -chaunce, adv. (conj.). Also: -chauns, -chawns, -s(c)hance; purchans. [ME. and e.m.E. parchaunce (Rolle), per- and par-chance (Gower), OF. par chance.Sometimes written as two words.]
Perchance. (Cf. Paraventur(e and Parcas(e.)
1. In a contingent or hypothetical statement: Perhaps; maybe; it may be (that).(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 1586.
For sume perchaunce suld me mistrew c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1331 (C).
Perchaunce that they ameved wer Bycause [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ix. 908.
Perchawns [C. purchans] he had noucht there bene dede And [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 142/11.
Giff vald be als curyouse as perchaunce I mych be a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxvii. 21.
Perchaunce [F. perschance](b) c1420 Wynt. v. 3718.
Perchans it may be medycyne [etc.] a1500 Henr. III. 143/39 (M).
Perchance c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 696.
Perchance ȝe think I war to law purchas [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 9/22.
Him … that he may nocht perchans haue presens of efterwart 1513 Doug. iv. i. 39.
Perchans I mycht be venquist in this rage 1603 Philotus cvi.
And ȝit thay may Perchance till vs agrie(c) 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 9/17.
Par chance(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1685.
And perchaunce he Sall neuir cum quhar he wold be ?1438 Alex. i. 2487.
Now … Thay sall perchance rus thame c1420 Wynt. v. 4300.
Sum … Sall … argwe perchans hys cunnandnes a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 140.
Perchance ȝe will get nane [sc. sons] of me 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I. 5.
Yf Ingland mak not thair armis … in dew tyme thai shall never pershance hayf the castell of Edinburgh 1562-3 Winȝet II. 57/19.
Perchanse a1585 Maitland Quarto MS viii. 16.
The borrowmuire Quhair sum perchance will hing 1596 Dalr. II. 475/12.(3) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 8/8.
Perchaunce lawde pepil comprehendis nocht the profound verite tharof 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 133. 1603 Philotus lii.(4) 1426 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 202.
Thai per chauns falleand to my twa ful brether 1439–40 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 240.
For the said annuale of x merkis nocht perchans payt a1538 Abell 97 a.
And perchance in pane of his perditioun aganis the Scottis in Berwik … he wes wincust in tua batellis a1538 Ib. 108 a.
& per chans ma till him at is wnlauchfull 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10064.
Gif I had ten barnis perchance and ma [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 71/28.
Leste ony man perchance lychtlyand wtheris arrogantlie [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 2/27. 1596 Ib. 128/10.
Perchance mair curious than true
2. By chance; it so happens or happened. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 15 (B).
Bewty sayis ȝa ser perchance Ȝe be my ladeis presoneir c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 896.
In mappamond the maik is not perchance 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/18.
Bot perchanse, be knottis onlie of argumentatioun he dressit his allegeance a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 66.
My fortun wes to be Ludgit perchance with this same companie
3. quasi-conj. Lest. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8878.
I durst not speik perchance ȝe had refusit
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"Perchance adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/perchance>
