INCIDENT. A thing depending upon, appertaining to, or following another, called the principal. 2. The power of punishing for contempt is incident to a court of record; rent is incident to a reversion; distress to rent; estovers of woods to a tenancy for a life or years. 1 Inst. 151; Noy's Max. n. 13; Vin. Ab. h.. t.; Dane's Ab. h.t.; Com. Dig. h.t., and the references there; Bro. Ab. h.t.; Roll's Ab. 75.

Source: Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
 

Incident \In"ci*dent\, n. [Cf. F. incident.]

1. That which falls out or takes place; an event; casualty; occurrence. [1913 Webster]

2. That which happens aside from the main design; an accidental or subordinate action or event. [1913 Webster]

No person, no incident, in a play but must be of use to carry on the main design. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. (Law) Something appertaining to, passing with, or depending on, another, called the principal. --Tomlins.

Syn: Circumstance; event; fact; adventure; contingency; chance; accident; casualty. See Event. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Incident \In"ci*dent\, a. [L. incidens, -entis, p. pr. & of incidere to fall into or upon; pref. in- in, on + cadere to fall: cf. F. incident. See Cadence.]

[1913 Webster]

1. Falling or striking upon, as a ray of light upon a reflecting surface. [1913 Webster]

2. Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous. [1913 Webster]

As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

3. Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining. [1913 Webster]

All chances incident to man's frail life. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

The studies incident to his profession. --Milward. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal. [1913 Webster]

Incident proposition (Logic), a proposition subordinate to another, and introduced by who, which, whose, whom, etc.; as, Julius, whose surname was C[ae]sar, overcame Pompey. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

77 Moby Thesaurus words for "incident": action, adventure, affair, anagnorisis, angle, architectonics, architecture, argument, atmosphere, background, catastrophe, characterization, circumstance, color, commotion, complication, condition, conjuncture, contingency, continuity, contrivance, denouement, design, development, device, disturbance, do, episode, event, eventuality, experience, fable, fact, falling action, fracas, gimmick, hap, happening, happenstance, juncture, line, local color, matter of fact, mood, motif, movement, mythos, occasion, occurrence, particular, peripeteia, phenomenon, plan, plot, proceeding, reality, recognition, rising action, scene, scheme, secondary plot, set-to, skirmish, slant, story, structure, subject, subplot, switch, thematic development, theme, to-do, tone, topic, turn of events, twist, upset

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

incident adj
1: falling or striking on something
2: (sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence; "incidental expenses"; "the road will bring other incidental advantages"; "extra duties incidental to the job"; "labor problems incidental to a rapid expansion"; "confusion incidental to a quick change" [syn: incidental] [ant: basic]

noun

1: a single distinct event
2: a public disturbance; "the police investigated an incident at the bus station"

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Incident \In"ci*dent\, a. [L. incidens, -entis, p. pr. & of incidere to fall into or upon; pref. in- in, on + cadere to fall: cf. F. incident. See Cadence.]

1. Falling or striking upon, as a ray of light upon a reflecting surface.

2. Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.

As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered. --Hooker.

3. Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.

All chances incident to man's frail life. --Milton.

The studies incident to his profession. --Milward.

4. (Law) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.

Incident proposition (Logic), a proposition subordinate to another, and introduced by who, which, whose, whom, etc.; as, Julius, whose surname was C[ae]sar, overcame Pompey. --I. Watts.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Incident \In"ci*dent\, n. [Cf. F. incident.]

1. That which falls out or takes place; an event; casualty; occurrence.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)