Adventure

ad·ven·ture  /ædˈvɛntʃər/ Show[ad-ven-cher] noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing.]

–noun
 

1.  an exciting or very unusual experience.

2.  participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

3.  a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

4.  a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.

5.  Obsolete .

     a.  peril; danger; risk.

     b.  chance; fortune; luck.

–verb (used with object)

6.  to risk or hazard.

7.  to take the chance of; dare.

8.  to venture to say or utter: to adventure an opinion.

–verb (used without object)

9.  to take the risk involved.

10.  to venture; hazard.

ad·ven·ture  (ād-věn'chər)  
n.

1. 
   
   1. An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.
   2. An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another state's affairs.
2. An unusual or exciting experience: an adventure in dining.
3. Participation in hazardous or exciting experiences: the love of adventure.
4. A financial speculation or business venture.

v. ad·ven·tured , ad·ven·tur·ing , ad·ven·tures

v. tr.

1. To venture upon; undertake or try.
2. To expose to danger or risk; hazard.

v. intr.

1. To take a risk; dare.
2. To proceed despite risks.

Word Origin & History

adventure

early 13c., auenture  "chance, fortune, luck," from O.Fr. auenture , from L. adventura (res)  "(a thing) about to happen," from adventurus , future participle of advenire  "to come about," from ad-  "to" + venire  "to come" (see venue). Original meaning was "to arrive," in Latin, but in M.E. it took a turn through "risk/danger" (a trial of one's chances), and "perilous undertaking" (early 14c.), and thence to "a novel or exciting incident" (1570). The -d-  was restored 15c.-16c. Venture (q.v.) is a 15c. variant.