Incident Definition
ĭnsĭ-dənt
incidents
noun
incidents
Something that happens; happening; occurrence.
Webster's New World
A particular occurrence, especially one of minor importance.
American Heritage
Something that happens as a result of or in connection with something more important; minor event or episode, specif. one in a novel, play, etc.
Webster's New World
An event in a narrative or drama.
American Heritage
An apparently minor conflict, disturbance, etc., as between persons, states, etc., that may have serious results.
Webster's New World
adjective
Likely to happen as a result or concomitant; incidental (to)
The cares incident to parenthood.
Webster's New World
Falling upon, striking, or affecting.
Incident rays.
Webster's New World
Dependent upon or involved in something else.
Webster's New World
Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.
Wiktionary
Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Other Word Forms of Incident
Noun
Singular:
incidentPlural:
incidentsOrigin of Incident
-
Middle English from Old French apt to happen, an incident from Latin incidēns incident- present participle of incidere to happen in- on in–2 cadere to fall kad- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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Recorded since 1412, from Middle French incident, from Latin incidens, the present active participle of incidō (“to happen, befall”), itself from in- (“on”) + -cidō, the combining form of cadō (“to fall”).
From Wiktionary
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