Advertisement
accidence (n.)
late 14c., in philosophy, "non-essential or incidental characteristic," also "part of grammar dealing with inflection" (mid-15c.), in some cases a misspelling of accidents, or else directly from Latin accidentia (used as a term in grammar by Quintilian), neuter plural of accidens, present participle of accidere "to happen, fall out; fall upon" (see accident). The grammar sense is because they are qualities which change in accordance with use (as gender, number, tense, case) but are not essential to the primary signification.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of accidence
Dictionary entries near accidence
accessibility
accessible
accession
accessorize
accessory
accidence
accident
accidental
accidentally
accipiter
acclaim