I. -nt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin incident-, incidens, from Latin, present participle of incidere to fall into, fall on, meet up with, occur, happen, from in- in- (II) + -cidere (from cadere to fall) — more at chance
1.
a. : an occurrence of an action or situation felt as a separate unit of experience : an occurrence or sometimes a situation or thing taking place as part of a larger continuum but unimportant or nonessential : happening
conflict is an inevitable incident in any active system of cooperation — Lewis Mumford
b. : an accompanying minor occurrence or condition : concomitant
Madison's view … that taxation is a necessary incident anyway to the exercise of any power — C.P.Curtis
c. : an occurrence noticeably varying a set or accustomed course or routine : an uncommon happening
to remain at variance with his wife seemed to him a considerable incident — Joseph Conrad
d. : an occurrence calling forth a sequel : a motivating event or situation : factor
the incident of that conflict was slavery, but it was not its true cause — Congressional Record
e. : a happening or related group of happenings subordinate to a main narrative plot
the melodrama and the romance … must be made up of swift successions of startling incident — E.G.Sutcliffe
f. : a frequent, accustomed, or routine occurrence unworthy of note or comment
a quite ordinary incident of daily life — Arnold Bennett
2.
a. : a contretemps, fracas, disturbance, or other action likely to lead to grave consequences especially in matters diplomatic
repeated minor incidents led finally to the danger of open combat at the boundary — American Guide Series: Maine
b. : a military situation marked by fighting without formally declared war
the Korea incident
c. chiefly Britain : a bomb explosion or other sudden violent disturbance
air-raid wardens checking on incidents
3.
a. : something dependent upon, appertaining or subordinate to, or accompanying something else of greater or principal importance
an alimony agreement may be an incident of a divorce proceeding
b. : something arising or resulting from something else of greater or principal importance
a power to employ a broker may be an incident of an express power to sell real estate
Synonyms: see occurrence
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin incident-, incidens, present participle
1.
a. : occurring or likely to occur especially as a minor consequence or accompaniment
confusion incident to a quick change
: associated or naturally related or attaching
the privileges incident to increased rank
b. obsolete : pertinent , apposite , liable , subject
2. archaic : occurring accidentally and without essential relationship : incidental
3. law : dependent on or appertaining to another thing : directly and immediately relating to or involved in something else though not an essential part of it
4.
a. : falling or striking on something — used especially of light rays on a plane
b. : acting from without : external
attacks by incident forces
Synonyms: see liable