Obs. [a. Fr. accidence, ad. L. accidentia sb. chance; f. accident-em, pr. pple. of accid-ĕre to fall, happen: see -NCE.] Hap, mishap, chance; fortuitous circumstance.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 153. And ofte of accidence … They ben corrupt by sondry way.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. Prol. 23. Thy maist supreme indiuisibil substance … Rengand eterne, ressauis na accidence.
1604. Dekker, King’s Entert., Wks. 1873, I. 300. Summon each Sence To tell the cause of this strange accidence.
1811. J. Pinkerton, Petralogy, Introd. 4. Petralogy … divided into twelve domains … six being distinguished by circumstances or accidences of various kinds.
