come-by-chance

History, the citizens of the world concluded, had demonstrated the impotence of the ancient, long-discarded array of adversarial nation-states and come-by-chance leaders to govern an intellectually advanced species.

The Universe — or Nothing Meyer Moldeven

"And here she is, lost in the wilderness, careering round the compass with heaven knows what come-by-chance fellow!" commented Sir James, adding quickly, "Ainley, she has got to be found!"

A Mating in the Wilds Ottwell Binns

"Money -- no lil come-by-chance neither; more money than ever you or me seed in our born days afore or shall agin."

Lying Prophets Eden Phillpotts 1911

D'ee think I raised 'ee up so carefully to chuck thyself away' pon a come-by-chance furriner?

I Saw Three Ships and Other Winter Tales Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

Poor cottagers living beside a highroad don't open too easily at this hour to a couple of come-by-chance wayfarers.

Two Sides of the Face Midwinter Tales Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

It was whispered about that you were a come-by-chance child, and your mother was a bad woman.

The Day of Judgment Joseph Hocking 1898

But I can never forget the injury he has done to you -- you who were branded in the village where you were reared as a come-by-chance child, a workhouse brat, reared, upon the rates, a burden to the parish!

The Day of Judgment Joseph Hocking 1898

He used, too, to hold the money-plate at Let Your Light so Shine, and stand godfather to poor little come-by-chance children; and he kept

Far from the Madding Crowd 1874

He's a come-by-chance, and he's a go-by-chance, and a good riddance too! '

Friarswood Post Office Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862

She was always afraid of their asking her to subscribe to something or other, so she gave it as her opinion, that she should never think it worth while to listen to such a very young man as that, and she hoped he would not stay; and then she said, 'So your brother was taking up with that come-by-chance lad, I saw.

Friarswood Post Office Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862