Emily Dickinson Lexicon

chaff, n. [OE ceaf, related to OHG cheva, husk, pod.] (webplay: food, matter).

Husk; shuck which encloses wheat kernels; dry light covering that separates from wheat at the time of threshing; [fig.] worthless substance; trivial matter.

chagrin, n. [Fr. chagrin, rough skin; displeasure, ill-humor; gnawing trouble.]

Anxiety; disconcertion; vexation; self-conscious distress.

chain, n. [ME chayne < L. catena, chain.]

Series; connected links; [fig.] restraint; implement of bondage.

chair, n. [ME chaere < L. cathedra, seat.] (webplay: seat).

Seat; sitting piece; furniture for one person to sit down.

chalk, v. [OE cealc < L. calc-em, calx, lime.]

Draw; plan out.

challenge (-d, challenging), v. [ME kalange-n < late L. calumniari, accuse falsely.]

1. Address; call upon; invite to a contest.
2. Face; confront; deal with.

chamber (-s), n. [Fr. chambre < Gk. kamgra, vaulted chamber.] (webplay: above, apartment, chase, dwelling, eye, form, hid, house, lodging, meets, occupies, place, roof, room, safe, secret, secured, sleeps, southern).

Bedroom; room in a house; [fig.] grave; tomb; mausoleum; burial place; [metaphor] cavity within the petals of a flower.

chamois, n. [Fr. < It. camoscia, chamois leather.] (webplay: antelopes).

Soft fine leather; skin from a goat-antelope.

chance (-s, -'s), n. [ME chea(u)nce < late L. cadent-, falling; see cadence.] (webplay: bird's, come, escape, event, luck, misfortune, pass, place, possibility, take, time, unknown).

1. Accident; coincidence; fluke; fortuity.
2. Gamble; hazard; risk; possibility of danger or harm.
3. Opportunity; occasion.
4. Likeliness; odds; probability; prospect; possibility of a given event occurring.
5. Randomness; unpredictability.

chance (-d), v. [see chance, n.]

Befall; pass; happen to go by.