Etymology

accident

ac·cid·ent
A1C3C3I1D2E1N1T1

Today it means: An unexpected event with negative consequences occurring without the intention of the one suffering the consequences, and (in the strict sense) not directly caused by humans. Full definition →

Middle English accident ← Old French accident ← Latin accidēn
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accident · noun, adjective1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
  2. Proto-Italic*ad
  3. Proto-Italic*ad-
  4. Latinad-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*ḱad-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*ḱádeti
  7. Proto-Italic*kadō
  8. Latincadō
  9. Latinaccidō
  10. Latinaccidēn
  11. Old Frenchaccident
  12. Middle Englishaccident
  13. English todayaccident

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.

Accident · proper noun2

Unknown.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.