| 释义 |
▪ I. venture, n.|ˈvɛntjʊə(r), -tʃə(r)|
Also 5–6 ventur. β. 6–7 (9 dial.) venter.
[Aphetic f. aventure adventure n.: cf. It. and Pg. ventura. In some senses perh. from the verb.
The form is no doubt partly due to the initial a- of aventure having been taken as the indefinite article, esp. after the stressing aˈventure had become usual. In 15th cent. texts it is probable that occasional instances of a venture or a venter should be read as one word.]
I.
†1.
a. Fortune, luck; chance. = adventure n. 1.
a1450Le Morte Arth. 2811 Launcelot saw ther was no socoure, nedysse muste he hys venture abyde.
†b. a venture's stroke, one delivered at a venture; a chance stroke. Obs.—1
c1450in Rel. Ant. I. 308 Come in with a rake in every a syde, An hole rownde and an halfe, wath so hit betyde, iiij. quarters and a rownd and a ventures stroke wyth.
c. at a venture, at random, by chance, without due consideration or thought; = adventure n. 3 b.
1509Hawes Past. Pleas. iv. vii, Howe at a venture, and by sodayne chaunce He met with Fame, by fortunes purueyaunce. c1590Sir T. More iv. i. 157 Then, good Inclination, beginne at a venter. 1602W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 15 But if the things aforesaid be not..weighed or marked, but be sold at a venture. 1611Bible 1 Kings xxii. 34 A certaine man drew a bow at a venture. 1696Whiston Th. Earth ii. (1722) 215 'Tis possible that I may several times by guess, or at a venture, hit upon it. 1720De Foe Capt. Singleton xv. (1840) 256 They should rather fire at a venture. 1780Cowper Let. 2 June, I never in my life began a letter more at a venture than the present. 1841Lane Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 77 As I no longer knew where I was, I continued swimming at a venture. 1886Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew xvi, ‘And your mother was an Indian,’ said Lady Jane, drawing her bow at a venture.
†2.
a. Danger, jeopardy, hazard, or peril; the chance or risk of incurring harm or loss. Obs.
α1550Crowley Last Trumpet 655 Thy lyfe thou must put in venture For Christes congregation. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 79 [He pressed] on the Persians, that they desired to come off without more venture, and so..retired home. 1677A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 156 By this way the Seed was put into the Husbandmans hand, and no venture to him. c1705Pope Jan. & May 182 The venture's greater, I presume to say, To give your person, than your goods away. 1823Scott Quentin D. xxviii, ‘Nevertheless,’ said the King, ‘it is not our pleasure so to put thee in venture’.
β1599B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. i. iii, One that hath now made the sixth returne upon venter. 1623T. Scot Highw. God 75 The venter and hazard is the buyers and the sellers, but the certaine gaine fals betwixt both to the usurer. 1640Habington Edw. IV, 90 When she perceived the Lords earnest to have the Prince present in the battle, shee violently opposed. In respect of his youth, want of experience, and the so mighty venter.
†b. to run the venture of, to run the risk of.
1722De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 169 To run the venture of the gallows rather than the venture of starving. 1729Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. 164 [He] had rather forego his known right than run the venture of doing even a hard thing.
3. a. An act or occasion of trying one's chance or fortune; a course or proceeding the outcome of which is uncertain, but which is attended by the risk of danger or loss; an enterprise, operation, or undertaking of a hazardous or risky nature.
a1566R. Edwards Damon & Pithias E j b, Gronno. Wilt thou venter thy life for a man so fondly? Pithias. It is no venter, my friende is iust, for whom I desire to die. a1625Fletcher Noble Gent. iv. i, I'll be your scholar, I cannot lose much by the venture sure. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. Ded. Let. A 4 Your Charity..made you so resolute and pressing to have me run a Venture, which you are pleas'd to think but a very Small One. 1686tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 181 The rest, which they durst not remove, for fear of endangering all at one venture. 1819Shelley Peter Bell 3rd vii. xxiii, No bailiff dared..to enter; A man would bear upon his face, For fifteen months,..The yawn of such a venture. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. v. 60, I made the desperate venture of sending off my..huntsman..to find the Esquimaux. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. (1877) II. 326 He deemed it better not to make his great venture till he had strengthened his force.
transf.1871R. H. Hutton Ess. I. 7 A kind of probationary venture of the will.
†b. In the phrases to put in or to a (or the) venture, to hazard or risk. Obs.
1638R. Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II) 18, I have put my selfe to the venture to goe as far as Gascogny to seek you out. 1639S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 101 He resolved to put all in a venture. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 146 How loath would I bee..to have the matter put to a venture. c1670M. Bruce Gd. News in Evil Times, etc. (1708) 33 This Love of Christ makes us put all to the venture; what loss had thir poor Women that put their All to the venture for him? 1700S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 323 As soon as they have paid their Debts, what is left they put to the venture. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Adventure, to venture, or put to the Venture, to hazard.
†c. to give the venture, to make the attempt.
1599Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 58 That although the people were blacke and naked, yet they were ciuill: so that hee would needs giue the venter without the consent of the rest to go without weapon. 1601Holland Pliny I. 194 Then Patroclus gave the venture. 1652Heylin Cosmogr. 28 However I will give the venture, and make as..profitable a discovery, as the times enable me, of the whole World.
d. An adventure or remarkable feat, incident, etc. rare.
1810Scott Lady of L. iii. i, The race of yore, Who..told our marvelling boyhood legends store, Of their strange ventures happ'd by land or sea. 1844Kinglake Eothen vi, The ventures of the Greeks are surrounded by such a multitude of imagined dangers, that [etc.].
4. a. An enterprise of a business nature in which there is considerable risk of loss as well as chance of gain; a commercial speculation.
1584–7Greene Carde of Fancie Wks. (Grosart) IV. 145 Your venter was much, but your gaines such, as..you are like to liue by the losse. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. iii. ii. 270 Hath all his ventures faild, what not one hit? 1605B. Jonson Volpone i. ii, If you died to day, And gaue him all,..What large returne would come of all his venters. 1610― Alch. ii. ii, But I buy it. My venter brings it me. 1660Pepys Diary 3 Oct., I heard the Duke speak of a great design that he and my Lord of Pembroke have..of sending a venture to some parts of Africa, to dig for gold ore there. 1810Crabbe Borough xvii. 219 Of both he keeps his ledger:—there he reads Of gainful ventures and of godly deeds. 1867Smiles Huguenots Eng. i. 5 [He] agreed to join them in their venture, and supply them with the necessary means. 1884Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 465 Inducing other people to spend their money..on such a venture as a limited company.
b. That which is ventured or risked in a commercial enterprise or speculation.
1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 69 There's a whole Marchants venture of Burdeux-Stuffe in him. 1598B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. ii. iii, He may pricke his foot with a thorne, and be as much as the whole venter is worth. a1764R. Lloyd Temple Fav. Poet. Wks. 1774 II. 135 The consequence has æsop told, He lost his venture, sheep and gold. 1771F. Burney Early Diary 3 June, As to merchandise, the few ventures he took out with him, he has brought back unchanged. 1814Canning in Croker Papers (1884) I. 57 It is the ship Kingsmill,..destined for the East Indies... She is a venture of 40,000l. 1841Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. (1874) II. 565 The importer is now enabled to bring his goods into this country, without being obliged to pay the duties until he finds for his venture either a foreign or a home purchaser.
†5. Chance or risk of something (Sc.); also ellipt., chance of being efficacious or beneficial. Obs.
1623Lodge Poore Mans Talent Wks. (Hunt. Cl.) IV. 16 Dropp..two or three dropps into your eies. If you could get the liuer of a buck and mix it with these, it would bee the better, and the water would haue greater venture. 1637Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. lxxviii. 200 Your Lordship hath now a blessed venture of winning court with the Prince of the Kings of the earth. 1671M. Bruce Gd. News in Evil Times Pref. (1708) A 2, That it is better for you to come and take your venture of suffering nor bide away.
6. The (or an) act of venturing upon something; an attempt at some action; also, the means or result of so venturing.
1842S. Lover Handy Andy Preface 6 A few short papers, under the title of this little venture, appeared at intervals in Bentley's Miscellany. 1849Ruskin Sev. Lamps iv. §3. 96 There are many forms of so called decoration in architecture, habitual, and received,..without any venture at expression of dislike. 1883Meredith Earth & Man i, On her great venture, Man, Earth gazes.
7. = adventure n. 8. rare.
1844Kinglake Eothen vi, Navigating the seas of their forefathers with the same heroic..spirit of venture. 1872Blackie Lays Highl. 26 Who..fled from pomp of Courts..to win lost souls..with loving venture.
II.
†8. A prostitute; = venturer 3. Obs.—1
1611Shakes. Cymb. i. vi. 123 Diseas'd ventures That play with all Infirmities for Gold, Which rottennesse can lend Nature.
†9. One who or that which ventures out. Obs.—1
1702in Pennsylv. Hist. Soc. Mem. IX. 123 The cruisers..may pick up all ventures out without hazard.
10. a. venture-girl, venture-miss, a girl or woman who goes to India in order to get a husband (both now Hist.).
1825T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. iii. II. 287 It was a rule in the carnal bazar of Bengal for Venture-Misses to take the first man who proposed. 1836― G. Gurney III. 107 Mrs. Nubley was a venture girl from England.
b. Special Comb.: venture capital = risk capital s.v. risk n. 3; hence venture capitalist; Venture Scout, a male or (since 1976) female member of that section of the Scout Association for those between 16 and 20 years of age (cf. rover scout s.v. rover1 3 d); hence Venture Scouting.
1943M. A. Shattuck in Addresses at Membership Forum (Nat. Assoc. Investment Companies) 22 Industry during the last decade has not only lacked venture capital for new enterprises; it has also lacked venture capital for established concerns. 1971Financial Mail (Johannesburg) 26 Feb. 681/1 These are some of the..successes which have brought just about every major US institution into the venture capital arena. Ibid. 681/2 Some venture capitalists insist on a majority equity stake. 1981Sci. Digest Aug. 118/1 Venture capital, the money that bankrolls people with an innovative product, dried up in 1969.
1966Venture scout [see rover1 3 d]. 1978Broadcast 27 Mar. 20/3 With many young men of 20 Venture Scouts..‘Boy’ Scout is hardly an accurate description for a large part of our membership. 1982Scouting Sept. 582/1 This is the year the Venture Scout Section celebrates its fifteenth birthday. Ibid. 582/2 (caption) Female Venture Scouts have played an important part in the Section since 1976.
1967Venture Scouting (Scout Assoc.) xv. 168 Venture Scouting is not always cheap; it isn't easy to get the right kind of gear. 1983Times 23 Aug. 2/5 Venture Scouting has increased from a membership of 30,000 in 1979 to more than 36,000 this year... Girls..make up about 20 per cent of overall numbers.
Add:[III.] [10.] [b.] venture capitalism, the system or practice of business investment based on venture capital.
1969Innovation iv. 46/2 Here, *venture capitalism reveals that scientists are human beings, too. 1976Business Week 12 Jan. 54/2 The London cousins call it ‘a shop window for our venture capitalism’. 1984W. Garner Rats' Alley viii. 146 A shoeshine boy had been working the crowd near their table... ‘This is venture capitalism, Warren. Be supportive.’
▸ venture capital trust n. (also with capital initials) Finance (orig. and chiefly Brit.) a managed fund designed to provide capital finance to new business ventures by offering tax advantages to investors.
1984Financial Times 21 Feb. (Survey) p. ix/4 *Venture capital trusts are still insignificant in size in relation to the exempt fund industry. 1999Mirror (Electronic ed.) 24 Feb. If you're thinking that a Venture Capital Trust might be a worthwhile investment, you should get in touch with an Independent Financial Adviser to find out more.
▪ II. venture, v.|ˈvɛntjʊə(r), -tʃə(r)|
Forms: α. 5–7 venter (6 ventre). β. 6 ventur (Sc. ventour), 6– venture.
[Aphetic f. aventure adventure v. Cf. prec.]
I.
1. trans. To risk the loss of (something); to expose to the chance of loss or injury, esp. in the hope of obtaining some advantage or gain; to hazard, risk, or stake.
Freq. const. with preps., as for, in, on, or upon.
αc1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 109 Alle ys for your love, madame, my lyfe wold I venter, So that ye wylle graunt me, I have desyryd many a wyntter. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 260 Som of the religion and league of the Protestauntes..wil venter their lives & spend their blud in this war. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. i. 101 And Prince of Wales, so dare we venter thee, Albeit, considerations infinite Do make against it. 1628Wither Brit. Rememb. ii. 1992 There many thousands are Of Townes and Cities..Who would conceive it were unjustly done, That he should venter all their wealth in One. 1645in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser i. III. 306 Hee that venters his life for the libertye of his countrie [etc.]. 1689Popple tr. Locke's 1st Let. Toleration L.'s Wks. 1727 II. 418 We are persuaded to venter our eternal Happiness on that Belief.
β1575Gascoigne Flowers Wks. 1907 I. 77 He..lyke a venturer..Determined for to venture me and all his worldly pelfe. 1580in Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) 75 note, A girdle ventured by Brothers of the Company in the Lottery. 1634W. Wood New Eng. Prosp. i. i, Many of his Majesties faithfull Subjects have beene imboldned to venture persons, states, and indeavors. 1665Pepys Diary 27 Dec., I will not venture my family by encreasing it, before it is safe. 1690Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxi. §66 It is a very wrong and irrational way of proceeding, to venture a greater Good for a less. 1701W. Wotton Hist. Rome 486 Mamaea, who durst not venture her son thro her overmuch Fondness. 1779Johnson L.P., Pope Wks. IV. 46 Pope was seized with the universal passion, and ventured some of his money. 1802M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xi. 89 Few people chose to venture a hundred guineas upon the turn of a straw. c1853Kingsley Misc. (1859) I. 34 His whole fortune is ventured in an expedition over which he has no control. 1885–94R. Bridges Eros & Psyche April xix, What hour the happy bride Ventures for love her maiden innocence.
b. Const. to with inf.
1583B. Melbancke Philotimus O ij b, I rather would to shield mine honour, & preuent his shame,..so venter life & limme. 1584Cogan Haven Health cxxxvi. (1636) 137 Many men rashly will venter their credit, yea, and sometimes their lives too, to steale Venison. 1647R. Stapylton Juvenal 76 As D. Junius Brutus ventured his [life], to free Rome of Tarquin. 1667Pepys Diary 4 April, Himself and three more would venture their carcasses upon it to pay all the King's debts in three years. 1706Stevens Sp. Dict. s.v. Rico, O rico, o pinjado, Either rich, or hang'd, when a Man ventures his Neck to get Wealth. 1748Anson's Voy. i. ii. 17 The Commodore did not care to venture the ships long boats to fetch the water off. 1860Motley Netherl. ii. (1868) I. 59 To further this end, many leading personages in France avowed..their determination to venture their lives and their fortunes.
c. In proverbial use, esp. in the phrase nought (or nothing) venture, nought (or nothing) have.
1546J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 31 Nought venter nought have. 1553Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 42 Nought venter nought haue, is a saying of old. 1604[? Chettle] Wit of Woman C 4 b, And she that will not venter her egges shall neuer haue chickens. 1668Sedley Mulberry Gard. iii. ii, Who ever caught any thing with a naked hook? Nothing venture, nothing win. 1777Boswell in Life Johnson (1904) II. 145, I am, however, generally for trying, ‘Nothing venture, nothing have’. 1885Cent. Mag. XXIX. 186 ‘Nothing venture, nothing have,’ Betty replied saucily.
†d. to venture a joint, to take some risk. Obs.
1573–80Tusser Husb. (1878) 173 To trust without heede is to venter a ioint. 1590Greene Never too late (1600) 17 The poore woman..promised to venture a ioynt, but shee would further him.
2. refl. To risk (oneself); to dare to go. Now arch.
Const. with preps., as in, on, upon, with, or adverbs of place, as abroad, thither.
1572Satir. Poems Reform. xxxviii. 80 For better it is to fecht it,..With speir men and weir men, and ventour our sellis. 1597Deloney Gentle Craft (1912) 169 Lo thus her selfe she ventred, And streight her streets we entred. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 21 Yet so venture thyselfe as a forlorne wretch upon the Lord. 1676Doctrine of Devils 92 For who being of the Demonologists opinion..will..so much as venture himself in a sound Boat? 1705Addison Italy, etc. 518 We were advis'd by our Merchants, by no means to venture our selves in the Duke of Bavaria's Country. 1735Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia, Descr. xi. 108 When I was to Cross this River at Boad, I durst not venture myself on the Flotes. 1746Hervey Medit. (1818) 153 One so..delicate in her constitution, that she dares not venture herself abroad in the open air. 1777Sheridan Trip Scarb. iv. i, Dare you venture yourself alone with me? 1825Scott Talism. xxiii, Was it not through thy conversation..that I ventured me thither in disguise.
3. To take the risk of sending, or causing to go, where loss or detriment is possible. Now rare.
1599Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 192 Others like Merchants venter Trade abroad. 1611in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 552, I have thought good to venture these with y⊇ Frenche poste by y⊇ way of Lyons. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 82 The streame..he found so exceeding swift, that it was like to be dangerous to venture our horses ouer. 1686tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 173 No body would venture their Goods into Mingrelia. 1707Dobson in Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) II. 83, I can't think any Gentlemen will venture their Sons here. 1718Lady M. W. Montagu Let. C'tess Mar 10 Mar., Which induces me to venture this letter to your house at London. 1734in Swift's Lett. (1768) IV. 77 As I would not venture my character abroad in the world without the advice of those who have succeeded in it. 1780Cowper Progr. Err. 520 Like something precious ventur'd far from shore, 'Tis valued for the danger's sake the more. 1814Scott Diary 19 Aug. in Lockhart, Our own log-boat being too heavy and far too valuable to be ventured upon this Cocytus.
b. To risk entrusting (a thing) with a person, or letting go out of one's hands.
1618Fletcher Chances iii. i, Now could I willingly..Venture my Body with thee. 1666Bunyan Grace Abound. §329 But yet..I must venture you all with God, though it goeth to the quick to leave you. 1726Swift Gulliver i. ii, I apprehended they might be lost or spoiled, if I ventured them out of my possession.
II.
4. To run or take the risk of (something dangerous or harmful); to brave the dangers of (ice, water, etc.).
Passing into sense 5, and now rare.
1548Cooper Elyot's Dict. s.v. Coeo, Societatem periculi coire, to venture the..daunger of a thing with an other. 1582Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 67, I was determined fully, too ventur al hazards, Al Troy too trauerse, too suffer danger al hapning. a1604Hanmer Chron. Ireland (1633) 156 Such as would not venter the water, were slaine by the English. 1604Shakes. Oth. iv. iii. 77 Why, who would not make her husband a Cuckold, to make him a Monarch? I should venture Purgatory for't. 1675Hatton Corr. (Camden) 120 That they had rather venter hanging than starving. 1707Freind Peterborow's Cond. Spain 38 They were unwilling to venture the disorders that might have happened to their Army. 1741C'tess of Hertford Corr. (1805) III. 3 Eighty-one of them ventured his resentment. a1774Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) I. 213 They could hardly believe his relation that I threw him into the water, and ventured my own drowning to procure his. 1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xl. (1856) 362 The temptations of the flesh were too much for me: I ventured the ice.
b. To risk allowing (a person) to do something.
1710Addison Spect. No. 21 ⁋8 A Man would be well enough pleased to buy Silks of one, whom he would not venture to feel his Pulse.
c. To risk trusting or confiding in (a person).
1777Sheridan Trip Scarb. iv. i, Well, this once I'll venture you. But if you disparage me ―. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. ii. 92 His Sepoys deserted for want of pay, and he durst not venture them in sallies.
5. To dare, or have the courage, to attempt or undertake (some action); to risk the issue or result of; to venture upon (see 9 b).
1595Shakes. John iv. iii. 5 The Wall is high, and yet I will leape downe... I am afraide, and yet Ile venture it. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. ii. xv. (1622) 54 Catualda..ventured a reuenge. 1633T. Stafford Pac. Hib. i. viii. 62 O Conner did undertake that the Connaught men should not..take our parts, being the only encouragement of the English, to venter this Enterprize. 1650Milton Eikon. (ed. 2) Pref. A 3, It shall be ventur'd yet, and the truth not smother'd, but sent abroad. 1742C. Middleton Cicero III. xi. 230 For we neither think it safe to venture a battel, nor [etc.]. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. VII. 257 It hunts about to find out the web of another spider,..with whom it ventures a battle. 1815Scott Guy M. l, Miss Bertram accompanied her friend..without venturing a second glance at the object of her terror. 1858Froude Hist. Eng. IV. xviii. 71 The garrison did not wait to make closer acquaintance with men who would venture such an enterprise. 1879― Cæsar xxii. 384 No more opposition was ventured by the Greek cities.
b. To dare to give, put forth, or express (an opinion, statement, etc.); to make or utter tentatively, or with some degree of presumption.
1638R. Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II) 101 A prudence that is so..scrupulous, that feares to venture a word for a vertuous friend. 1828Lytton Pelham II. xxvi, I..ventured a sly joke at the good effects of matrimony. 1849E. B. Eastwick Dry Leaves 64 Those who had not the shadow of a ground for venturing any statement at all. 1906Marj. Bowen Viper of Milan viii, ‘They say in Milan Lady Valentine is to marry the Duke of Orleans,’ Tomaso ventured presently.
†c. With abroad: To risk publishing (an article, etc.). Obs.
1674Boyle Excell. Theology Pref. 3 The Philosophical papers I have hitherto ventured abroad. 1709Chandler Eff. agst. Bigotry Ded. A 2 b, When I first ventur'd it abroad in the World, I expected the Fate that usually attends such as attempt to part a Fray, even to be box'd on both Ears.
III. 6. intr. To risk oneself; to brave the risks or chances of a journey, voyage, etc.; to dare to go or proceed. Const. with preps. and advs.
1534in Star Chamb. Cases (Selden) II. 292 Your marchantes..venteryng to Iseland for Fysshe. 1550Crowley Last Trumpet 1033 If thou venter into straunge landes, And bringe home thynges profitable. 1587Mirr. Mag., Sabrina xxii, For love to ayde her, venter in would I. 1624Capt. Smith Virginia iii. 66 Into the great vast deep to venter out. 1676Doctrine of Devils 92 For who being of the Demonologists Opinion..will dare to venture to either of the Indies. a1727Newton Chronol. Amended (1728) 111 The first men who left the Sea-coasts, and ventured out into the deep. 1797S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. I. 328, I thought not of venturing near this spot till dark. 1823F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 21 It being half past six, it was considered too late now to venture to the summit. 1832W. Irving Alhambra II. 239 Venturing on, she came at last to a great hall. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. iii. 46 With a good stock of fresh meat..I can venture away from the vessel to draw supplies from the Esquimaux.
fig.1610Donne Pseudo-Martyr 133 Olde Monkes were vsed heretofore to be but Coasters,..further then the Contemplation of Heauen..guided them, they did not easily venter. 1633Massinger Guardian iii. i, I affect A handsome mistress..and on good terms, Will venture as far i' the fire, so she be willing To entertain me. 1877Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. ix. 104 The archbishop had not ventured so far to be frightened at the first hard word. 1898‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner xvi, She knew that in love he was the incarnation of caution, and would only venture so far as she encouraged him to come.
7. To run or take risks; to incur the chance of danger, peril, loss, disapproval, etc.
1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 64 And where as you may preuayle more by other meanes, why wyll you venter with so great daunger? 1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 53 It is the token of a high minde to venter for a Queene. 1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 503 Three Gentle-women were then sent forth to seeke a Knight that would venter in her defence. 1657T. Jordan Walks Islington v. ii, As I live here's Sir R. Lamard that broke the prison; how the devil dares he venter? 1725Watts Logic ii. v. §4 Where the improbabilities of success or advantage are greater than the probabilities, it is not prudence to act or venture. 1820Byron Mar. Fal. i. ii. 539 You have deeply ventured; But all must do so who would greatly win. 1895H. H. Furness Mids. N. Dream Pref. p. xxi, In emending Shakespeare's text..those who know the most, venture the least.
b. To be boldly speculative. rare—1.
1559J. Aylmer Harborowe E 4, It is a wonder, that men vnskilled in the diuersities of times, and historis, dare thus ventre in so great matters.
c. To take part in, invest in, a financial venture or speculation. rare—1.
c1620in Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. (1915) 20 The Lottery shall be presently removed..with speciall care of the Governors that the poor be not suffered to venture.
8. With inf.: To dare, presume, go so far as, be so bold as (to do something).
Common from c 1610; in later use frequently in weakened sense (cf. next).
1559J. Aylmer Harborowe E 4, A Quene in Illiria, who durst venture to withstand the Romains. 1589Pasquil's Ret. D b, The holie Patriarche..neuer venturde to alienate the possessions of Idolatrous Priestes. 1609Rowley Search for Money (Percy Soc.) 11 Biskets, which..nere a souldier there durst venter to breake. 1656Cowley Pindar. Odes, New Year iv, Upon the Brink..We should stand shivering, and but slowly venter The Fatal Flood to enter. 1699Burnet 39 Art. xviii. 173 Instead of stretching the severity of Justice..we may rather venter to stretch the Mercy of God. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 252 He would at any time venture to send his two sons into the mountains. 1774Burke Sp. Amer. Tax. Wks. II. 355 Why do you venture to repeal the duties upon glass, paper, and painters colours? 1840Thirlwall Greece lv. VII. 71 Archias..did not even venture to cross over to the Arabian side of the Persian Gulph. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 617 Thirty times the fugitives ventured to look through the outer hedge: but everywhere they found a sentinel on the alert. 1887Bowen Virg. Ecl. viii. 102 Over thy shoulders fling them, nor venture behind thee to look!
b. Used with reference to the expression of opinions, etc.
1610Holland Camden's Brit. i. 354 Some of these..were by a new English Saxons name called Wiccij: but whereupon, I dare scarse venture to guesse. 1660Boyle New Exp. Phys.-Mech. xviii. 134, I should not undertake to answer so difficult a question, and should venter to say no more. a1687Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) 95, I humbly venture to say, all these things may be done. a1774Tucker Lt. Nat. IV. iii. 203 If you observe those people who pretend to be fullest of doubts you will find them most fond of that positive phrase, I will venture to say. 1803Med. Jrnl. X. 297, I now ventured to pronounce, that what I took for a bilious fever was in reality the influenza. 1850Grove Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 2) 98 The view which I would venture to suggest is, that such vibrations are themselves electricity or magnetism. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 244 The sound of the voice which reaches and educates the soul, we have ventured to term music.
9. to venture on or venture upon:
†a. To make trial of (a person or animal); to dare to advance upon, approach, or attack. Obs.
c1520Everyman 484 in Pollard Eng. Mir. Plays (1890) 87 Yet will I venter on her now. My Good Dedes, where be you? 1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. vi, The sly Rhinocerot: Who..doth venter Upon his Foe. 1592Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 628 Being irefull, on the lyon, he [the boar] will venter [rime enter]. 1631A. Wilson The Swisser ii. iii, I'le venture on the Beauty. (He kisses her.)
b. To attempt or undertake (something of a dangerous or difficult nature) without assurance of success; to accept or take the risk of (an action, course, or proceeding); to dare to do, make, or take (something), realizing that a risk is being run. † Also with of.
1557Cheke Let. to Hoby in Hoby Courtyer (1561) Z z v, If the old denisoned wordes could..ease this neede we wold not boldly venture of vnknowen wordes. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 282 There is no daunger so great, that they wyl refuse to venter vpon for his preseruation. 1609B. Jonson Sil. Wom. i. ii, Can he endure no noise and will venter on a wife? 1652H. L'Estrange Amer. no Jewes 7 To venter upon such another voyage as Noah's. 1711Addison Spect. No. 121 ⁋1 They never venture upon the Fruit of any Tree,..unless they observe that it is marked with the Pecking of Birds. 1755Young Centaur i. Wks. (1757) IV. 123, I venture on it out of what I conceive to be charity, greater still! 1781Cowper Charity 6 A task I venture on, impell'd by thee. 1863Kinglake Crimea I. 296 Not only could they have no semblance of a public meeting, but they could not even venture upon the slightest approach to..lesser gatherings. 1876‘L. Carroll’ Hunting Snark ii. xviii, The third is his slowness in taking a jest, Should you happen to venture on one.
10. to venture at, to make a venture or attempt at; to guess at.
1613Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. i. 156 [It is] held for certaine The King will venture at it. 1653More Antid. Ath. ii. xii. §17 To view the asperities of the Moon through a Dioptrick-Glass and venture at the Proportion of her Hills by their shadows. 1671R. Bohun Wind 85 Wee might likewise venture at a better account. c1710C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 158 They cannot venture at that sort of tillage. 1736Ainsworth i. s.v., Mankind will venture at anything. 1823J. Simpson Ricardo the Outlaw I. 24 She debated for a few minutes, which door she should venture at. 1863Cowden Clarke Shaks. Char. xx. 508 The only time he..ventures at a reason for what he says.
Hence ˈventured ppl. a.
1623Massinger Dk. Milan ii. i, Is this..The fair return of both our ventured favours! c1625Bradford Plymouth Plant. (Massach. Hist. Soc.) III. 201 The catle were y⊇ best goods, for y⊇ other, being ventured ware, were neither at y⊇ best,..nor at y⊇ best prises. 1892J. B. Mayor Ep. James, Author p. xxiv, His mother..did nevertheless..draw upon herself his reproof for ventured interference. |