Hazard, n.
Etymology: [F. hazard, Sp. azar an unforeseen disaster or accident, an unfortunate card or throw at dice, prob. fr. Ar. zahr, zar, a die, which, with the article al the, would give azzahr, azzar.]
1. A game of chance played with dice. Chaucer.
2. The uncertain result of throwing a die; hence, a fortuitous event; chance; accident; casualty. I will stand the hazard of the die. Shak.
3. Risk; danger; peril; as, he encountered the enemy at the hazard of his reputation and life. Men are led on from one stage of life to another in a condition of the utmost hazard. Rogers
4. (Billiards
3 more senses
Holing a ball, whether the object ball (winning hazard) or the player's ball (losing hazard).
5. Anything that is hazarded or risked, as the stakes in gaming. "Your latter hazard." Shak. Hazard table, a a table on which hazard is played, or any game of chance for stakes. -- To ru, to take the chance or risk.
Syn. -- Danger; risk; chance. See Danger.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Hazard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hazarded; p. pr. & vb. Hazarding.]
1. To expose to the operation of chance; to put in danger of loss or injury; to venture; to risk. Men hazard nothing by a course of evangelical obedience. John Clarke. He hazards his neck to the halter. Fuller.
2. To venture to incur, or bring on. I hazarded the loss of whom I loved. Shak. They hazard to cut their feet. Landor.
Syn. -- To venture; risk; jeopard; peril; endanger.
Hazard, v. i.
To try the chance; to encounter risk or danger. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Hazard is the incurring the possibility of loss or harm for the possibility of benefit; danger may have no compensating alternative. In hazard the possibilities of gain or loss are nearly balanced; in risk the possibility of loss is the chief thought; the foolhardy take great risks in mere wantonness; in chance and venture the hope of good predominates; we speak of a merchant's venture, but of an insurance company's risk; one may be driven by circumstances to run a risk; he freely seeks a venture; we speak of the chance of winning, the hazard or risk of losing. Accidents are incalculable; casualties may be to a certain extent anticipated; death and wounds are casualties of battle, certain to happen to some, but uncertain as to whom or how many. A contingency is simply an indeterminable future event, which may or may not be attended with danger or risk. See accident; danger.