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# perchance

adverb (old use)

«perchance» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Perhaps; possibly, by chance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perchance/#m1)

### In the lessons

in fairy tales, a king or lord wonders aloud whether something may be true

### Examples

- Well, my lord King, were you frightened, perchance? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perchance/#x1)
- Was he thinking, perchance, of his fair young wife? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perchance/#x2)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

It means "perhaps", as in the hope that a proud heart might become humble.

**Interpretation.** The idea is that suffering may lead people to repent. In Jewish thought, the door to returning to God (teshuvah) always stays open.

### Examples

- I also will walk contrary unto them, and bring them into the land of their enemies; if then perchance their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then be paid the punishment of their iniquity; (Torah LEV.26.41, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perchance/#x1)
- Then said David to Jonathan: 'Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?' (Prophets 1SA.20.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perchance/#x2)
- The image perchance, which the craftsman hath melted, and the goldsmith spread over with gold, the silversmith casting silver chains? (Prophets ISA.40.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perchance/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «perchance» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perchance/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perchance» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/perchance.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «perchance» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perchance/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perchance» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/perchance.html) on Mova free.