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Webster 1913 Edition


Odds

Odds

(ŏdz)
,
Noun.
s
ing.
&
pl.
[See
Odd
,
Adj.
]
1.
Difference in favor of one and against another; excess of one of two things or numbers over the other; inequality; advantage; superiority; hence, excess of chances; probability. The odds are often expressed by a ratio;
as, the
odds
are three to one that he will win, i. e. he will win three times out of four
“Preeminent by so much odds.”
Milton.
“The fearful odds of that unequal fray.”
Trench.
The
odds

Is that we scarce are men and you are gods.
Shakespeare
There appeared, at least, four to one
odds
against them.
Swift.
All the
odds
between them has been the different scope . . . given to their understandings to range in.
Locke.
Judging is balancing an account and determining on which side the
odds
lie.
Locke.
2.
Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; – chiefly in the phrase at odds.
Set them into confounding
odds
.
Shakespeare
I can not speak
Any beginning to this peevish
odds
.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Odds

ODDS

,
Noun.
s as z. [It is used both in the singular and plural.]
1.
Inequality; excess of either compared with the other; difference in favor of one and against another.
Preeminent by so much odds.
In this example, much marks the singular number, and many cannot be used.
Cromwell, with odds of number and of fate -
All the odds between them has been the different scope given to their understandings to range in.
Judging is balancing an account and determining on which side the odds lie.
There appeared at least four to one odds against them.
2.
Advantage; superiority.
3.
Quarrel; dispute; debate.
It is odds, more likely than the contrary. It is odds that he will find a shrewd temptation.
At odds, in dispute; at variance; in controversy or quarrel.
That sets us all at odds.
Or they must always be at odds.

Definition 2024


odds

odds

English

Noun

odds pl (plural only)

  1. The ratio of the probabilities of an event happening to that of it not happening.
    I'd say the odds are strongly in favor of the sun rising tomorrow morning.
  2. The ratio of winnings to stake in betting situations.

odds

  1. plural of odd

Usage notes

  • The word "odds" was formerly sometimes used with a singular verb, e.g. (Stephen S. Foster) "If there be any difference in the two crimes, the odds is in favor of the foreign enslaver."

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Anagrams


Icelandic

Noun

odds

  1. indefinite genitive singular of oddur

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From English odds

Noun

odds m (definite singular oddsen, indefinite plural odds, definite plural oddsene)

  1. odds

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From English odds

Noun

odds m (definite singular oddsen, indefinite plural odds, definite plural oddsa)

  1. odds

References