Accidence

Pronunciation

Origin

• First attested in the late 14th century.
• (grammar) First attested in the mid 15th century.
• From Latin accidentia ("accidental matters"), from accidens, present participle of accidere ("to happen")

Full definition of accidence

Noun

1. (grammar) The accidents, of inflections of words; the rudiments of grammar. - John Milton
2. A book containing the first principles of grammar, and so of the rudiments of any subject or art.
3. The rudiments of any subject. - James Russell Lowell

Related terms

• accident