INCIDENT
incidental, incident
(adjective) (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”
incident
(adjective) falling or striking of light rays on something; “incident light”
incident
(noun) a single distinct event
incident
(noun) a public disturbance; “the police investigated an incident at the bus station”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
incident (plural incidents)
(countable, uncountable) An event or occurrence.
A (relatively minor) event that is incidental to, or related to others.
An event that causes or may cause an interruption or a crisis, such as a workplace illness or a software error.
Adjective
incident (not comparable)
Arising as the result of an event, inherent.
(physics, of a stream of particles or radiation) Falling on or striking a surface.
Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.
Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.
(legal) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.
Source: Wiktionary
In"ci*dent, a. Etym: [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)
Definition: 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 Cæsar, overcame Pompey. I. Watts.
In"ci*dent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. incident.]
1. That which falls out or takes place; an event; casualty;
occurrence.
2. That which happens aside from the main design; an accidental or
subordinate action or event.
No person, no incident, in a play but must be of use to carry on the
main design. Dryden.
3. (Law)
Definition: Something appertaining to, passing with, or depending on,
another, called the principal. Tomlins.
Syn.
– Circumstance; event; fact; adventure; contingency; chance;
accident; casualty. See Event.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition