incidental
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L322396 on Wikidata ↗adjective
- not the main purpose
- occuring by happenstance
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɪnsɪˈdɛntəl/ / /ɪnsəˈdɛntəl/ / [ɪnsɪˈdɛ.ɾ̃əl]
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree English incident Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English incidental From incident + -al.
- Loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accidentally related.
“That character, though colorful, is incidental to the overall plot.”
“incidental evidence”
- Existing tangentially, being a byproduct, a tangent, or a likely consequence.
“Injuries are incidental to contact sports: they're going to happen.”
- Occurring by chance.
- Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident).
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree English incident Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English incidental From incident + -al.
- Minor items, not further defined. Incidental expense.
“She's costing us a lot in incidentals.”
- Something that is incidental.