a distinct piece of action, or an episode, as in a story or play.
3.
something that occurs casually in connection with something else.
4.
something appertaining or attaching to something else.
5.
an occurrence of seemingly minor importance, esp. involving nations or factions between which relations are strained and sensitive, that can lead to serious consequences, as an outbreak of hostilities or a war: border incident; international incident.
6.
an embarrassing occurrence, esp. of a social nature.
–adjective
7.
likely or apt to happen (usually fol. by to).
8.
naturally appertaining: hardships incident to the life of an explorer.
9.
conjoined or attaching, esp. as subordinate to a principal thing.
10.
falling or striking on something, as light rays.
[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < MF < ML incident- (s. of incidéns a happening, n. use of prp. of L incidere to befall), equiv. to L in-in-2+ -cid- (comb. form of cad- fall) + -ent--ent; cf. cadence]
A definite and separate occurrence; an event. See Synonyms at occurrence.
A usually minor event or condition that is subordinate to another.
Something contingent on or related to something else.
An occurrence or event that interrupts normal procedure or precipitates a crisis: an international incident.
adj.
Tending to arise or occur as a result or accompaniment: "There is a professional melancholy . . . incident to the occupation of a tailor"(Charles Lamb).
Related to or dependent on another thing.
Physics Falling upon or striking a surface: incident radiation.
[Middle English, from Old French, apt to happen, an incident, from Latin incidēns, incident-, present participle of incidere, to happen : in-, on; see in-2 + cadere, to fall; see kad- in Indo-European roots.]
1412, "something which occurs casually in connection with something else," from L. incidentem (nom. incidens), prp. of incidere "happen, befall," from in- "on" + -cidere, comb. form of cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). Sense of "an occurrence viewed as a separate circumstance" is from 1462. Meaning "event that might trigger a crisis or political unrest" first attested 1913. Incidental "casual, occasional" first recorded in Milton (1644). Conversational use of incidentally for "by the way" first attested 1925.
falling or striking of light rays on something; "incident light"
2.
(sometimes followed by 'to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence; "incidental expenses"; "the road will bring other incidental advantages"; "extra duties incidental to the job"; "labor problems incidental to a rapid expansion"; "confusion incidental to a quick change" [syn: incidental] [ant: basic]
noun
1.
a single distinct event
2.
a public disturbance; "the police investigated an incident at the bus station"
E*vent"\, n. [L. eventus, fr. evenire to happen, come out; e out + venire to come. See Come.]1. That which comes, arrives, or happens; that which falls out; any incident, good or bad. "The events of his early years." --Macaulay. To watch quietly the course of events. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked. --Eccl. ix. 2. 2. An affair in hand; business; enterprise. [Obs.] "Leave we him to his events." --Shak. 3. The consequence of anything; the issue; conclusion; result; that in which an action, operation, or series of operations, terminates. Dark doubts between the promise and event. --Young. Syn: Incident; occurrence; adventure; issue; result; termination; consequence; conclusion. Usage: Event, Occurrence, Incident, Circumstance. An event denotes that which arises from a preceding state of things. Hence we speak or watching the event; of tracing the progress of events. An occurrence has no reference to any antecedents, but simply marks that which meets us in our progress through life, as if by chance, or in the course of divine providence. The things which thus meet us, if important, are usually connected with antecedents; and hence event is the leading term. In the "Declaration of Independence" it is said, "When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary." etc. Here, occurrences would be out of place. An incident is that which falls into a state of things to which is does not primarily belong; as, the incidents of a journey. The term is usually applied to things of secondary importance. A circumstance is one of the things surrounding us in our path of life. These may differ greatly in importance; but they are always outsiders, which operate upon us from without, exerting greater or less influence according to their intrinsic importance. A person giving an account of a campaign might dwell on the leading events which it produced; might mention some of its striking occurrences; might allude to some remarkable incidents which attended it; and might give the details of the favorable or adverse circumstances which marked its progress.
In"ci*dent\, a. [L. incidens, -entis, p. pr. & of incidere to fall into or upon; pref. in- in, on + cadere to fall: cf. F. incident. See Cadence.]1. Falling or striking upon, as a ray of light upon a reflecting surface. 2. Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous. As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered. --Hooker. 3. Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining. All chances incident to man's frail life. --Milton. The studies incident to his profession. --Milward. 4. (Law) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal. Incident proposition (Logic), a proposition subordinate to another, and introduced by who, which, whose, whom, etc.; as, Julius, whose surname was C[ae]sar, overcame Pompey. --I. Watts.
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