at all adventures

at all adventures

1. (obsolete) At random, in any manner, any which way; in whatever way one can, as best one can.
   • 1570, Roger Ascham, The Scholemaster, London, “The first booke for the youth,” p. 3,

     Yet all men couet to haue their children speake latin: and so do I verie earnestlie too. We bothe, haue one purpose: we agrée in desire, we wish one end: but we differ somewhat in order and waie, that leadeth rightlie to that end. Other would haue them speake at all aduentures: and, so they be speakinge, to speake, the Master careth not, the Scholer knoweth not, what.

   • c. 1589, William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, Act II, Scene 1,

     Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?

     Sleeping or waking? mad or well-advised?

     Known unto these, and to myself disguised!

     I’ll say as they say and persever so,

     And in this mist at all adventures go.

   • 1690, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, London: Thomas Basset, Book IV, Chapter 17, “Of Reason,” Section 2, p. 341,

     This is the lowest degree of that, which can be truly called Reason: For where the Mind does not perceive this probable connexion; where it does not discern, whether there be any such connexion, or no, there Men’s Opinions are not the product of Judgment, or the Consequence of Reason; but the effects of Chance and Hazard, of a Mind floating at all Adventures, without choice, and without direction.

   • 1759, David Hume, The History of England: under the House of Tudor, London: A. Millar, Volume 2, Chapter 5, p. 613,

     It is believed, that the master of Gray, gained by the enemies of that princess, gave secretly his advice not to spare her, and undertook at all adventures to pacify his master.

2. (obsolete) No matter what might happen, come what may.
   • c. 1560, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Arthur of Brytayn, London: Robert Redberne, Chapter 43, p. 47,

     And whan Arthur saw the noblenesse of thys chambre, and specyally of this bedde he had great plesure to behold it and sayd to him selfe how that at all aduentures he wold lye downe on the bedde, and not to ferre for anye drede of death […]

   • 1645, John Milton, The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, London, Chapter 9, p. 49,

     […] can we so slightly depress the all wise purpose of a deliberating God, as if his consultation had produc’d no other good for man but to joyn him with an accidental companion of propagation, which his sudden word had already made for every beast? nay, a far less good to man it will be found, if she must, at all adventures, be fastned upon him individually.

   • 1743, Robert Drury, The Pleasant, and Surprizing Adventures of Mr. Robert Drury, during his Fifteen Years Captivity on the Island of Madagascar, London, p. 11,

     […] when he came out [the Captain] ask’d them, if they approv’d of his running the Ship on Shoar at all Adventures; to which they all unanimously agreed, and cry’d out Any Thing to save our Lives.