accidentialadj.

?1558 H. Baker tr. O. Fine Rules Vse of Almanackes (new ed.) xvii. sig. C.ii^v It is conuenient, to treat of the .12. houses of heauen, and of their accidentiall nature [Fr. accidentale nature] and how they must be distingued and erected in all regions.

1642 tr. W. Ames Marrow Sacred Divinity 155 The accidentiall forme [L. forma accidentialis] is visible, because it is nothing else then an outward profession of inward Faith, which may be easily perceived by sence.

1683 T. Browne Miracles 30 The like may be said of Motion in Matter: it is wholely contingent and accidential to it.

1722 F. Brerewood tr. J. Terrasson Crit. Diss. Homer's Iliad I. p. xix This will suffice for all such Readers as judge of Poetical Compositions..by what is principal and essential to 'em, and not merely by what is accessary and accidential.

1811 J. Pinkerton Petralogy I. Introd. p. v Petralogy..divided into Twelve Domains..six, being distinguished by circumstances or accidences of various kinds, may be called circumstantial, or accidential.

1814 Edinb. Rev. 23 67 The last [six domains]..are denoted by the ingenious appellation of Accidential.

1898 Catholic World May 185 We are constantly reminded of Sancho Panza by Fedzain; though there are fundamental elements..as well as accidential ones which mark him off from the immortal squire.

1916 Amer. Catholic Q. Rev. 41 103 The divine transformation which gradually takes place in him through his vital union with Jesus Christ to be consummated in glory is a mighty change indeed, but accidential and not essential.

1989 Brit. Jrnl. Philos. Sci. 40 477 Neither statement seems to be a promising candidate for a law; thus,..one accidential generalization has given way to another.

1603 T. Bell Anat. Popish Tyrannie 157 In regard of the poore benefices, which are farre larger and better, a wiseman would thinke; then the vncertaine and accidentiall maintenance, of the Seminaries in this lande.

1692 J. Locke 3rd Let. for Toleration ix. 226 You your self cannot determine it, makes its Usefulness yet more uncertain and accidential.

1725 J. Windus Journey to Mequinez i. 66 If he speaks, some swear by their God, what he says is true..which once occasioned an accidential Jest.

1766 Eliza II. xxvii. 38 I protest, my dear Charlotte, this was meerly accidential, and happened in the following manner.

1832 ‘M. Doyle’ Hints on Emigration to Upper Canada (ed. 2) x. 64 The latter weeks of a voyage lengthened by accidential circumstances.

1896 R. A. Torrey How to study Bible v. 83 Was it accidential that Bethlehem, the name of the place where the Bread of Life was born, means ‘House of bread’?

1916 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 16 490 Man may be inoculated by bubonic plague as has been proved by intentional and accidential inoculation.

1992 A. Desmond & J. Moore Darwin 566 Where was the time for man to have evolved by Darwin's ‘higgledy-piggledy’ process—where one accidential variation in ten thousand was usable?