occasionalityn.
/əˌkeɪʒəˈnalᵻti/, U.S. /əˌkeɪʒəˈnælədi/ The quality or fact of being occasional, esp. of being prepared, composed, etc., for a particular occasion; an occasional piece.In quot. 1767 used in a parody of Johnsonian style.
ΚΠ
1767 A. Campbell Lexiphanes 45 He was disgusted at..the occasionality and ambitiousness of her dress.
a1822 P. B. Shelley in W. Bagehot Lit. Stud. (1879) I. 76 From the occasionality of its impulses, it will often seem silly.
1837 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe I. viii. 608 From their occasionality, or want of merit, far the greater part have perished.
1859 W. D. Howells Let. 5 Oct. in Sel. Lett. (1979) I. 46 I suppose you do not see my occasionalities in the Saturday Press.
1976 Sociol. of Educ. 49 64/1 One of the features of background knowledge is its occasionality. That is, it too requires a context for its understanding.
1996 Renaissance Q. 49 654/2 [The essay] offers some interesting insights into the widespread occasionality of Milton's early poetic performances.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1767