non-essentialadj.n.
/ˌnɒnᵻˈsɛnʃl/, U.S. /ˌnɑnəˈsɛn(t)ʃ(ə)l/ A. adj.
Not essential.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > free will > [adjective] > non-obligatory
uncompulsory1567
unnecessitated1635
unobligatory1645
non-essential1647
unobliged1726
optional1779
unimperative1817
facultative1822
the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > [adjective] > non-essential
accidental1387
casual1398
incident1523
accidentary?1549
accessarya1555
chanceablea1557
accessory1563
circumstant1583
advenient1594
adventive1605
adventitial1607
circumstantial1608
contingent1628
adventious1633
incidental1644
accessional1646
contingential1647
non-essential1647
extra-essential1667
attachable1798
dividuous1816
inessential1832
peripheral1902
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical proposition > [adjective] > of or assigning an attribute > of or relating to accidents
accidentala1398
casual1398
accidentary?1549
contingent1628
contingential1647
non-essential1843
1647 L. Seaman Διατριβη proved to be Παραδιατριβη 73 Laying on of hands in these times is not only non-essentiall, but unlawfull.
1751 Earl of Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 71 He answered her in the non-essential modes. He talked of friendship [etc.].
1843 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic I. i. vi. §4 155 Non-essential or accidental Propositions, on the contrary, may be called Real Propositions, in opposition to Verbal.
1883 W. Black Shandon Bells xxxii I say that he is careless about what is non-essential.
1925 E. T. Brown Compl. Motor-cyclist 126 The non-essential accessories include a luggage grid, speedometer, leg-shields [etc.].
1984 J. Gathorne-Hardy Doctors (1987) xi. 98 I would like to see the patients pay for their non-essential drugs.
B. n.
A thing that is not essential. Usually in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > [noun] > non-essentialness > that which is non-essential or accident
accidentala1398
adventionc1475
accident1491
circumstance1599
under-accident1632
contingential1647
modality1647
adventitial1652
extrinsical1652
adventition1661
ornamental1774
inessential1778
non-essential1806
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > unessential
indifferency1643
non-essential1806
unessential1828
indifferentiala1834
1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London III. i. 16 I..only dissented from my amiable Rebecca in what she termed non-essentials.
a1857 R. A. Vaughan Ess. & Remains (1858) I. 51 The distinctions between essentials and non-essentials in religion.
1887 T. Hardy Woodlanders I. v. 89 External phenomena..may have a great influence upon feminine opinion of a man's worth, so frequently founded on non-essentials.
1935 A. J. Cronin Stars look Down i. xvii. 154 He wanted to change the whole curriculum, cut the idiotic non-essentials on which visiting inspectors set such store.
1984 J. Archer First among Equals (1985) xxi. 256 Full of endless advertisements for non-essentials he couldn't believe anyone really bought.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1647