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accido

Etymology and origin of the Latin word accido

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accido1 fall, happen

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈak.kɪ.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈat.t͡ʃi.do][1]

Forms

accidō (present infinitive accidere, perfect active accidī); third conjugation, no passive, no supine stem[1]

Etymology

It is from ad- (“to”) and cadō “to fall”, with the vowel weakened to ⟨i⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations include Livius Andronicus, of water flowing down, and Plautus, of descending from the sky.[2][4] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to fall down, descend, of water to flow down, to fall at someone's feet, as in Ennius, and to fall upon, attack, as in Sallust.[2] Of sounds and news it meant to reach the ears, and of sights to strike the eyes or mind, as in Cicero.[2] Above all it meant to happen, occur, come about, to turn out, and to befall someone, with sī quid mihi acciderit “if anything should happen to me”, that is, if I die.[2] Accidit ut meant “it happens that”.[2] In philosophy it meant to be accidental to, and in grammar to be an inflection of.[2] Döderlein says accidere is used of unexpected events, ēveniō of expected ones, and contingō mostly of fortunate ones.[6]

Its participle accidēns gave English accident in the late 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of falling water.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of descending from the sky.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses accidit ut “it happens that”.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English accident is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To fall down, descend.[2]
  2. To fall at someone's feet.[2]
  3. To fall upon, attack.[2]
  4. (of sounds, sights) To reach, strike.[2]
  5. To happen, occur.[2]
  6. To befall, sī quid acciderit, if anything should happen (death).[2]
  7. (philosophy) To be accidental (to).[2]

Word family

accido2 cut into

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Caesar

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [akˈkiː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [atˈt͡ʃiː.do][1]

Forms

accīdō (present infinitive accīdere, perfect active accīdī, supine accīsum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

The cutting verb is a compound of ad- (“to, at”) and caedō “to cut, strike”.[2][7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Caesar uses it of trees cut so far through that only their standing outline is left.[2][8]

Semantic evolution

From cutting into trees it came to mean felling them, and, figuratively, cutting down an army by slaughter or weakening a state: Cicero says that a cause, though shattered (accīsae), may revive and renew the war.[2][7] Virgil uses it of food used up, and Arnobius of crops eaten by locusts.[2][8] Late Latin dictionaries add the senses “to impair, break down, destroy”.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 50 BC – Caesar, of trees cut nearly through.[2][8]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of a weakened cause.[2][7]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of forces cut down in battle.[2][7]
  • 297–310 AD – Arnobius, of crops eaten by locusts.[8][7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To cut nearly through; to cut back, fell.[2][8]
  2. To reduce by slaughter, cut up (an army); to weaken (a state).[2][7]
  3. To cut down, use up (resources, food).[2][4]

Word family

  • accīsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Accido.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/accido. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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