accidence

[ ak-si-duhns ]

noun

1. the rudiments or essentials of a subject.
2. Grammar.
   1. the study of inflection as a grammatical device.
   2. the inflections so studied.

accidence

/ ˈæksɪdəns /

noun

1. inflectional morphology; the part of grammar concerned with changes in the form of words by internal modification or by affixation, for the expression of tense, person, case, number, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of accidence¹

1500–1510; < Latin accidentia, neuter plural of accidēns (present participle of accidere to fall, befall). See accident

Word History and Origins

Origin of accidence¹

C15: from Latin accidentia accidental matters, hence inflections of words, from accidere to happen. See accident

Example Sentences

Accidence: This has been sufficiently described in the texts mentioned above.

From Project Gutenberg

Inconsistent punctuation in subheaders (Accidence: and similar) has been silently regularized.

From Project Gutenberg

It is supposed that during this time he wrote his valuable little book called The Accidence.

From Project Gutenberg

Theoretical, being confined to certain grammatical rules of accidence and syntax and practically excluding vocabulary.

From Project Gutenberg

(c) Accidence and etymology, which teaches us the nature of inflected forms and derivatives, and also how to use them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alphabet
• syntax