accĭdens, entis.
I P. a. fr. accĭdo.—
II As subst. n.
A The accidental , nonessential quality of any thing, τὸ συμβεβηκός (opp. substantia, the Greek οὐσία): causa, tempus, locus, occasio . . . rerum sunt accidentia, the accidental or extraneous circumstances , Quint. 5, 10, 23; so 3, 6, 36; 4, 2, 130: ex accidentibus (= epithetis), id. 8, 3, 70; hence, an adjective, Macr. S. 1, 4.—
B An accident or chance.
1 In gen., Dig. 35, 2, 51: per accidens, accidentally , Firm. Math. 5, 4.—
2 In part., an unfortunate circumstance : accidentia (opp. prospera), Pseudo-Quint. Decl.