dice

Definition

Gaming with one or more dice.

Etymology

From Middle English dys, plural of dy. See the etymology of die (etymology 2) for further information. The voiceless /s/ was most likely retained because the word felt like a collective term rather than a plural form (compare pence), and the spelling dice is a result of the pronunciation.

Example Sentences

• "Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga—perhaps too much dice, you know—coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax-gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes."
• "On the other hand, evolution is not a matter of chance, even in the sense in which a game of dice is a game of chance."
• "I, at any rate, am convinced that He is not playing at dice."