accidental
13
4.9
- adjective
- /ˌæk.sɪˈdɛn.təl/
:
incidental
- A well-knit plot has neither an accidental beginning nor an accidental end, according to Aristotle's Poetics.
- an accidental tourist
- accidental circumstances
- an accidental effect
You know, leaving aside accidental properties, the essence, the ascencia is what that being is.
- You know, leaving aside accidental properties, the essence, the ascencia is what that being is.
- Just that almost this little accidental view of this human being.
Examples
-
The added details were only accidental and did not affect the main story.
-
She found an accidental benefit in the extra time she had after the meeting was rescheduled.
-
All of which pointed at possible accidental ways that it could happen.
-
Many of these restrictions are the result of accidental effects rather than conscious programming decisions.
Academic text (1992) -
Contracts are meant to reflect the conscious will of the parties involved, not the accidental use of a default option.
-
What she'd described was less a family than a series of accidental pairings.
Fiction book (2002) -
Like no other nation, America is in love with the utterly accidental outlines of its provinces.
Academic text (1998) -
Hence we rightly for our use, distinguish the accidental from the essentials.
-
These are, in some respect, they're not simply contingent or accidental, but they're not essential either.
-
His comments were accidental, not meaning to change the course of the discussion.
Synonyms
29
7.7
Not important and not likely to make a difference
28
6.0
A small or less important result that is not the main thing
11
4.4
Not needed for something to work or be successful
1
5.0
Not needed for the main purpose
Antonyms
Compounds
How Central
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Accidental comes from Latin accidere 'to happen', and was used for things that 'happen' to be true rather than being part of the main thing. So an accidental quality is a minor or extra feature that is not essential to what something is.