2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Odds  \Odds\  ([o^]dz),  n.  sing.  &  pl  [See  {Odd},  a.] 
  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.  ``Pre["e]minent  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. 
  --Shak. 
 
  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.  --Shak. 
 
  I  can  not  speak  Any  beginning  to  this  peevish  odds. 
  --Shak. 
 
  {At  odds},  in  dispute;  at  variance.  ``These  squires  at  odds 
  did  fall.''  --Spenser.  ``He  flashes  into  one  gross  crime 
  or  other  that  sets  us  all  at  odds.''  --Shak. 
 
  {It  is  odds},  it  is  probable.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  odds 
  n  1:  the  probability  of  a  specified  outcome  [syn:  {likelihood},  {likeliness}] 
  [ant:  {unlikelihood},  {unlikelihood}] 
  2:  the  ratio  by  which  one  better's  wager  is  greater  than  that 
  of  another;  "he  offered  odds  of  two  to  one" 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words