Accidental Definition
ăksĭ-dĕntl
adjective
Occurring unexpectedly, unintentionally, or by chance.
American Heritage
Happening by chance; fortuitous.
Webster's New World
Of or relating to an accidental.
American Heritage
Belonging but not essential; attributive; incidental.
Webster's New World
Being an animal, especially a bird, that has strayed beyond its normal range.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun
A property, factor, or attribute that is not essential.
American Heritage
A nonessential quality or feature.
Webster's New World
Any of various signs that indicate the alteration of a note by one or two semitones or the cancellation of a previous sign.
American Heritage
A sign, as a sharp, flat, or natural, placed before a note to show a change of pitch from that indicated by the key signature.
Webster's New World
A note that has been marked with such a sign.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Accidental
Noun
Singular:
accidental
Plural:
accidentalsOrigin of Accidental
Compare French accidentel, earlier accidental.
From Wiktionary
-
accident + -al
From Wiktionary
First attested in 1386.
From Wiktionary
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