incident English · revision 4574

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1412-20|origins=la incidere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|incident]], [[bor|frm|incident]], and directly from [[la|incidēns|t=falling upon, happening]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the present participle of incidere “to fall into, fall upon, happen, befall”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from in- “on” and cadere “to fall”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*kad-|t=to fall]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[accident]], [[incidence]] and [[cadence]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Something that happens in connection with something else, a subordinate event: 1412–1420 in the OED,^(OED 1989) before 1420 in Barnhart, in Lydgate's Troy Book.^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective, liable to happen, is from probably before 1425 in Barnhart and the late 15th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An event viewed on its own, the main modern sense, is from the mid-15th century (1462 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A distinct episode in a play or poem is from 1695,^(OED 1989) and in law a privilege or burden that goes with something else from 1628.^(OED 1989) The euphemistic sense of an event that may set off a crisis or unrest, such as a border clash, is from 1913.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The adjective “falling or striking upon”, as of light, is from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) ''Incidental'' and ''incidentally'' are from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1412–20 – a subordinate event.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1462 – a separate occurrence.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 15th century – adjective, likely to happen.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1628 – in law, a privilege or burden attached to something.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – adjective, falling upon.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1695 – an episode in a play.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1913 – an event that may provoke a crisis.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that happens, especially an [[event]] that is unusual or unpleasant.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A minor event connected with something more important.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A violent or troublesome event, such as a clash between countries, that may lead to a [[crisis]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''incident to'': tending to happen as a result of or along with something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(physics)'' Falling on or striking a surface: ''incident light''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[incidentless]]

+ * [[nonincident]]

+ * [[coincident]]

+ * [[incidental]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accident]]

+ * [[incidence]]

+ * [[cadence]]

+ * [[coincide]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}