Emily Dickinson Lexicon

case (-s), n. [ME cas < L. casu-s, fall, chance, occurrence, case.] (webplay: certain, comes, crown, fall, friend, last, supposition, unfurnished).

1. Condition; specific situation; particular circumstances; exceptional personal history; individual state of affairs.
2. Argument; reason; point.
3. Phrase. “In case”: perchance; in the event; for the contingency; to be ready if; if it should so happen.