occasional English · revision 7653

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=late 14th century|origins=la-med occasionalis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈkeɪʒ(ə)nəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[occasion]] and -al, or from Old French ocasionel and directly Medieval Latin [[m|la-med|occasionalis]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Occurring now and then: the late 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) 1611 in MWU, and casual, incidental, 1568 in the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Casual is from the 1560s and is obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Happening without regularity, as occasion presents itself, is from 1630.^(OED 1989) Pertaining to a particular occasion is from the 1630s (before 1631 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of a speech, poem or service written for one, from 1687.^(OED 1989) Of furniture, adapted for use on special occasions, it is from 1749,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of persons employed on particular occasions from 1759.^(OED 1989) Middle English also had occasionary, favourable, giving opportunity.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – occurring now and then.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1568 – casual (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1630 – irregular.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1687 – written for an occasion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1749 – of furniture.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Happening from time to time; not frequent or [[regular]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Made or done for a special [[occasion]]: ''occasional verse''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Meant for use as the occasion requires: ''an occasional table''.^(AHD)

+ # Acting in a capacity from time to time.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[occasionalness]]

+ * [[occasionalism]]

+ * [[unoccasional]]

+ * [[occasionally]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[occasion]]

+ * [[casual]]

+ * [[case]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}