accidental

English

/ˌæk.sɪ.ˈdɛn.tl̩/

adj
Definitions
  • Not essential; incidental, secondary.
  • (philosophy) Nonessential to something's inherent nature (especially in Aristotelian thought).
  • (music) Adjusted by one or two semitones, in temporary departure from the key signature.
  • Occurring sometimes, by chance; occasional.
  • Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according to the usual course of things; by accident, unintentional.
  • (geometry) Being a double point with two distinct tangent planes in 4-dimensional projective space.

Etymology

Borrowed from accidentel derived from Middle French accidentel derived from Latin accidēntālis affix from English accident.

Origin

English

accident

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms