ADVENTURE, a hazardous enterprise. Thus an "adven turer," from meaning one who takes part in some speculative course of action, came to mean one who lived by his wits and a person of no character. The word is also used in certain restricted legal connections. Joint adventure, for instance, may be distin guished from partnership (q.v.). The bill of gross adventure in French maritime law is an instrument making a loan on maritime security. The word was freely used of mercantile enterprises during the colonizing period : hence the title of "Merchant Ad venturers." (See CHARTERED COMPANIES.)