a. rare. [f. L. accidentia, see ACCIDENCE1 + -AL. Cf. essential.] Characterized by non-essential qualities.
1811. J. Pinkerton, Petralogy, Introd. 4. Petralogy … divided into twelve domains … six being distinguished by circumstances or accidences of various kinds, may be called circumstantial, or accidential.
1814. Edin. Rev., XXIII. 67. The last [six domains] … are denoted by the ingenious appellation of Accidential.
