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Added 9 October 2026

accident

/ˈæk.sɪ.dənt/ noun

In Latin: calamitas First recorded: late 14th century Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about accident at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury.
Anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause.
winning the lottery was a happy accident

Origin

First attested in the late 14th century. From Middle English accident, from Old French accident, from Latin accidēns, present active participle of accidō (“happen”); from ad (“to”) + cadō (“fall”). See cadence, case. In the sense “unintended pregnancy”, first attested in 1932.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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