accident French · revision 16608

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=after 1160, Benoît de Sainte-Maure|origins=la cadō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ak.si.dɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''accident''' ''m'' (plural accidents)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|accidēns|t=chance event; misfortune, (philosophy) accident]], the present participle of [[m|la|accidō|t=to fall upon; to happen]] used as a noun, from [[m|la|ad-]] and [[m|la|cadō|t=to fall]] (see [[choir]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|24, 73b) The noun is used for chance or unhappy events from Seneca; as a term of philosophy, from Quintilian, it rendered [[grc|συμβεβηκός|tr=sumbebēkós]], and it was much used in scholastic Latin.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Compare [[pro|accident]], [[it|accidente]] and [[es|accidente]].^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Benoît de Sainte-Maure (after 1160) uses it for a disastrous event: ''Maleit seit or cil aucidenz'' “cursed be that misfortune”.^(TLFi) In Chrétien de Troyes's ''Cligès'' (1170) the changing colours of a face are ''accident d'amors'', outward signs of love.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In philosophy it is what is added to a substance and can change without altering its nature, as in the ''Roman de la Rose'' (1237): ''les accidens et les sustances''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Par accident'' “by chance” is in Brunetto Latini (1268).^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+

+ The idea of an unhappy chance prevailed from the late 12th century: a medical sense in the 17th century, then in the 18th a sudden event causing damage, and in the 19th ''accident de voiture'', ''de train'', later ''d'avion'', ''accident de la circulation'' is now the commonest use.^(DHLF 1992) ''Accident de terrain'', a sudden change in the ground, appears in the early 19th century.^(DHLF 1992) In African and Indian Ocean French ''faire un accident'' is to be in a road accident.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * after 1160 – “A disastrous event”, Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * 1170 – “An outward sign”, Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1237 – A term of philosophy, ''Roman de la Rose''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1268 – ''Par accident'', Brunetto Latini.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+ * c. 1650 – A medical sense.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * early 19th century – ''Accident de terrain''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|accident]], a mishap causing damage or injury: ''accident de voiture'', ''accident du travail''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A non-essential episode, ''par accident'', by chance, ''accident de parcours'', a hitch.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' What is added to the essence and can change without altering its nature.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # An irregularity: ''accident de terrain''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(music)'' An [[m|en|accidental]], a sharp, flat or natural sign.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(dated)'' A chance event: ''un heureux accident''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accidenté]]

+ * [[accidentel]]

+ * [[accidentellement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[choir]]

+ * [[la|accidēns]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}