Middle English Dictionary Entry
incident n.
Entry Info
| Forms | incident n. Also incedent. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A minor or insignificant but related event or detail in a narrative, dispute, etc.; (b) a disconnected episode, an irrelevancy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3339 : Boþe two as in her writyng Ne varie nat..Touching mater..Þat is notable or historial; I do no fors of incidentes smale.
- (1425) RParl.4.297b : Ye..Prince Humfrey Duc of Gloucester..putteth in dede, all manere of causes, materes, and querelx, with all yere incidents, circumstances, dependentes, and connexes.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)89 : We..Arbitrours in alle maner off causes, maters, and quereles..with al there incedentes, circonstances, dependentes.
- (1449) RParl.5.148a : Which maters and declarations with all theire incidentes, the Kyng..committed to certeyn Lordes of the same Parlement for to examyn.
- (a1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.31 : This and what incedentes ye knowe, I preie yow by wrytinge certefie me in all hast.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.53b : That..all the said Convictions, Jugementes..with all the incidents, circumstaunces, and dependaunts therof..be adnulled.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2872 : Myn auctor..Here Impeth in a litel incident I-wrouȝt & doon of ful ȝore a-goon.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.821 : I will passe ouer as breeffli as I can, Set aside al foreyn incidentis, Resorte ageyn to Dioclesian.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Eliz.Spalb.(Dc 114)108/17 : Besyde my purpos, I put heere þis incident.