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accidens

Etymology and origin of the Latin word accidens

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Seneca
Ultimate origin
Latin (cadō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈak.kɪ.dẽːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈat.t͡ʃi.dens][1]

Forms

accidēns (genitive accidentis); third-declension one-termination participle[1]

Etymology

It is the participle of accidō “to fall upon, happen”, from ad- and cadō “to fall”, used as a noun.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Seneca, of a chance event.[2] Köbler dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a chance happening, a contingency, as in Seneca, and in Quintilian a contingent attribute, a circumstance.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant an accident, in the philosophical sense.[5] It survives in Italian and Spanish accidente and French accident, and through Old French it gave English accident in the late 14th century, an occurrence, what comes by chance.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a chance event.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a contingent attribute.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English accident is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A chance event, contingency.[2]
  2. (philosophy) A contingent attribute, an accident.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Accidens.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/accidens. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·