I. əˈkāzhən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English occasioun, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French occasion, from Latin occasion-, occasio, from occasus (past participle of occidere to fall down, from ob- + cadere to fall) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at chance
1. : a situation or set of circumstances favorable to a particular purpose or development : a timely chance : opportunity
rose to the occasion
was equal to the occasion
took occasion by the forelock
only those living in exceptionally fortunate localities had occasion to grow surplus products — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington
while the new science has achieved wonders in medicine and surgery, it has also produced and spread occasions for diseases and weaknesses — John Dewey
2.
a. : something that produces an effect or brings about an event
a formula that has been the occasion for a considerable amount of misunderstanding — I.A.Richards
any occasion which prompts a mind to ask some fundamental question — Hunter Mead
an occasion of sin
b. : something that helps to bring about an event or produce an effect without directly causing it : a contributing or incidental cause
the birthday … was merely the occasion , not the cause, of the guests' effusions — Lillian Ross
the specific occasion of the poem is not known — C.S.Kilby
a casual mention of the house by a friend was the occasion of their buying it
an inspiring teacher was the occasion of his great achievements in science
3. : a circumstance, occurrence, or state of affairs that provides ground or reason for something
there is no occasion for alarm: it is a very mild illness
his graduation with honors is occasion for celebration
4.
a. : a particular occurrence : happening , incident
well adapted for treatment as a row of detached episodes or occasions — Percy Lubbock
everybody has been terribly kind since my recent sad occasion — Thomas Kelly
b. : a particular time at which something takes place : a time marked by some happening
on the occasion of his daughter's wedding
on the occasion of the signing of the peace treaty
5.
a. : a need arising from a particular circumstance : exigency , requirement
there had been no occasion for being so definite — Sherwood Anderson
knowledge for which he will never have any occasion — C.H.Grandgent
b. archaic : a personal want or need — usually used in plural
my purse, my person, my extremest means lie all unlock'd to your occasions — Shakespeare
6. occasions plural : something that one has to do : necessary affairs : business
minded his own occasions and was content to let other folk mind theirs — S.H.Adams
going about their lawful or unlawful occasions all over the seven seas — Douglas Bush
7.
a. : a religious ceremonial ; specifically : a Scottish communion service
b. : a special event or ceremony : celebration
he liked the occasion — the Changing of the Guard of St. James's Palace, parties, and balls, and such things as that — Basil Taylor
sat in the big parlor as though this was an occasion — Agnes S. Turnbull
Synonyms: see cause , opportunity
•
- on occasion
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to give occasion to : bring about : give rise to : cause
a violent storm occasioned a new delay of two weeks — Oscar Handlin
social and commercial intercourse will occasion movement of language — Charlton Laird
2. : to cause to do something
was almost at the end of his financial resources, which fact occasioned him to turn away from a pretentious hotel — Zane Grey