Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VEN'TURE, n. [Fr. aventure; It. and Sp. ventura; from L. venio, ventus, venturus, to come.]

1. A hazard; an undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event which can not be foreseen, with tolerable certainty. I‚ in this venture, double gains pursue. – Dryden.
2. Chance; hap; contingency; luck; an event that is not or can not be foreseen. – Bacon.
3. The thing put to hazard; particularly, something sent to sea in trade. My ventures are not in one bottom trusted. At a venture, at hazard; without seeing the end or mark; or without foreseeing the issue. A bargain at a venture made. – Hudibras. A certain man drew a bow at a venture – 1 Kings xxii.