Hypertext Webster Gateway: "odds"

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) 1.7 (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" [syn: {betting
odds}]

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