incident

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɪnsɪd(ə)nt/

noun

  • 1an instance of something happening; an event or occurrence: several amusing incidents there was not one incident of teasing from the 90 pupils
  • a violent event, such as a fracas or assault: one person was stabbed in the incident
  • a hostile clash between forces of rival countries: the US regretted the incident
  • [mass noun] the occurrence of dangerous or exciting things: my period in Egypt wasn’t without incident
  • 2 Law a privilege, burden, or right attaching to an office, estate, or other holding.

adjective

  • 1 (incident to) liable to happen because of; resulting from: the changes incident to economic development
  • Law attaching to: the costs properly incident to a suit for foreclosure or redemption
  • 2(especially of light or other radiation) falling on or striking something: when an ion beam is incident on a surface
  • Physics relating to incidence: the incident angle

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin incident- 'falling upon, happening to', from the verb incidere, from in- 'upon' + cadere 'to fall'