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venture (v.)

early 15c., "to risk the loss" (of something), shortened form of aventure, itself a form of adventure. General sense of "to dare, to presume" is recorded from 1550s. Related: Ventured; venturing.

Nought venter nought have [Heywood, "Proverbs," 1546]

venture (n.)

c. 1400, "fortune, chance," shortening of aventure (n.), a variant of adventure (n.); also from Anglo-French venture. Sense of "risky undertaking" first recorded 1560s; meaning "enterprise of a business nature" is recorded from 1580s. Venture capital is attested from 1943.

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Definitions of venture from WordNet
1
venture (v.)
proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers;
We ventured into the world of high-tech and bought a supercomputer
Synonyms: embark
venture (v.)
put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
Synonyms: guess / pretend / hazard
venture (v.)
put at risk;
Synonyms: hazard / adventure / stake / jeopardize
2
venture (n.)
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome;
venture (n.)
an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits;
Synonyms: speculation
venture (n.)
a commercial undertaking that risks a loss but promises a profit;
From wordnet.princeton.edu