English
accidental
Accidental comes from Late Latin accidēntālis.
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEaccidēntālis
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400accidentel
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500accidental
- Englishearliest quotation 1603same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEaccidēntālis
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400accidentel
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500accidental
- Englishearliest quotation 1603same form
Earliest quotation: 1603, Michel de Montaigne, Essays: “The way to trueth is but one and simple,…”
Formed from accident + -al
Proto-Indo-European *ḱad- ‘to fall’
…
Latin accidō ‘happen’
Latin accidēns
Old French accident
Middle English accident
English accident
Every English word from Late Latin accidēntālis
Today it means
adj Pertaining to accident and not essence; thus, inessential; incidental; secondary.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Late Latin accidēntālis / accidental