VENTURES

Noun

ventures

plural of venture

Source: Wiktionary

VENTURE

Ven"ture, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of OE. aventure. See Adventure.]

1. An undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event which can not be foreseen with certainty; a hazard; a risk; a speculation. I, in this venture, double gains pursue. Dryden.

2. An event that is not, or can not be, foreseen; an accident; chance; hap; contingency; luck. Bacon.

3. The thing put to hazard; a stake; a risk; especially, something sent to sea in trade. My ventures are not in one bottom trusted. Shak. At a venture, at hazard; without seeing the end or mark; without foreseeing the issue; at random. A certain man drew a bow at a venture. 1 Kings xxii. 34. A bargain at a venture made. Hudibras.

Note: The phrase at a venture was originally at aventure, that is, at adventure.

Ven"ture, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ventured; p. pr. & vb. n. Venturing.]

1. To hazard one's self; to have the courage or presumption to do, undertake, or say something; to dare. Bunyan.

2. To make a venture; to run a hazard or risk; to take the chances. Who freights a ship to venture on the seas. J. Dryden, Jr. To venture at, or To venture on or upon, to dare to engage in; to attempt without any certainty of success; as, it is rash to venture upon such a project. "When I venture at the comic style." Waller.

Ven"ture, v. t.

1. To expose to hazard; to risk; to hazard; as, to venture one's person in a balloon. I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. Shak.

2. To put or send on a venture or chance; as, to venture a horse to the West Indies.

3. To confide in; to rely on; to trust. [R.] A man would be well enough pleased to buy silks of one whom he would not venture to feel his pulse. Addison.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition