accident English · revision 3848

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1374|origins=la cadō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæk.sɪ.dᵊnt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|accident]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|accident]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|accidēns|t=an occurrence; chance; misfortune]] (accusative accidentem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the noun use of the present participle of [[m|la|accidere|t=to happen, fall out, fall upon]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|ad-|t=to]] and [[m|la|cadere|t=to fall]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*kad-|t=to fall]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[chance]], [[incident]], [[occasion]], [[decay]] and [[cadaver]];^(Cresswell 2021) the idea of an event falling remains in [[befall]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An occurrence, incident, event: about 1380, in Chaucer's ''House of Fame'', according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) An unfortunate event, a mishap, is from about 1374 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An accident was at first just “an event, something that happens”, not necessarily a mishap,^(Cresswell 2021) though since Latin the sense has tended to move from “an event” to “an undesirable event”;^(Etymonline) Latin ''si quid cui accidat'', “if anything should happen to one”, was a euphemism for dying.^(Etymonline) In Middle English the word is met usually in theology, of the material qualities of the sacramental bread and wine, in medicine, of an unusual condition or injury, and in philosophy, of a non-essential attribute.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Chance, as ''by accident'', is from 1490, after French par accident,^(OED 1989) and “the operations of chance” from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) By the 17th century the modern meaning was established.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Accidents will happen'', from ''accidents will happen in the best-regulated families'', dates from the early 18th century.^(Cresswell 2021) An accidental call of nature is from 1899,^(OED 1989) an unplanned child from 1932,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and ''accident-prone'' from 1926.^(Etymonline) [[accidental]] is from 1386.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1374 – a mishap.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – an event, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1386 – ''accidental''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1490 – chance, ''by accident''.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 18th century – ''accidents will happen''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1926 – ''accident-prone''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1932 – an unplanned child.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An unexpected and undesirable event, especially one causing damage or injury.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An unforeseen event; a [[chance]] occurrence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lack of intention: ''by accident''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In philosophy, a property that is not essential to the nature of a thing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[postaccident]]

+ * [[accidental]]

+ * [[accident-prone]]

+ * [[accident insurance]]

+ * [[cerebrovascular accident]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chance]]

+ * [[incident]]

+ * [[occasion]]

+ * [[decay]]

+ * [[cadaver]]

+ * [[cadence]]

+ * [[befall]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}