Champion
(Cham"pi*on) n. [F. champion, fr. LL. campio, of German origin; cf. OHG. chempho, chemphio,
fighter, champf, G. kampf, contest; perh. influenced by L. campus field, taken in the sense of "field of
battle."]
1. One who engages in any contest; esp. one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf
of another's honor or rights; or one who now acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an
advocate; a hero.
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Shak.
Champions of law and liberty.
Fisher Ames.
2. One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an acknowledged supremacy in any branch of athletics
or game of skill, and is ready to contend with any rival; as, the champion of England.
Champion is used attributively in the sense of surpassing all competitors; overmastering; as, champion
pugilist; champion chess player.
Syn. — Leader; chieftain; combatant; hero; warrior; defender; protector.
Champion
(Cham"pi*on), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Championed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Championing.] [Obs.]
Shak.
2. To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to support or maintain; to protect.
Championed or unchampioned, thou diest.
Sir W. Scott.
Championness
(Cham"pi*on*ness) n. A female champion. Fairfax.
Championship
(Cham"pi*on*ship), n. State of being champion; leadership; supremacy.
Champlain period
(Cham*plain" pe"ri*od) (Geol.) A subdivision of the Quaternary age immediately following
the Glacial period; — so named from beds near Lake Champlain.
The earlier deposits of this period are diluvial in character, as if formed in connection with floods attending
the melting of the glaciers, while the later deposits are of finer material in more quiet waters, as the
alluvium.
Chamsin
(||Cham*sin") n. [F.] See Kamsin.
Chance
(Chance) n. [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr.
L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. çad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]
1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; —
in this sense often personified.
It is strictly and philosophically true in nature and reason that there is no such thing as chance or accident; it
being evident that these words do not signify anything really existing, anything that is truly an agent or
