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n. [ F. accident, fr. L. accidens, -dentis, p. pr. of accidere to happen; ad + cadere to fall. See Cadence, Case. ] 1. Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; a casualty; a mishap; as, to die by an accident. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of moving accidents by flood and field. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident:
It is the very place God meant for thee. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) A property attached to a word, but not essential to it, as gender, number, case. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Log.) (a) A property or quality of a thing which is not essential to it, as whiteness in paper; an attribute. (b) A quality or attribute in distinction from the substance, as sweetness, softness. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Any accidental property, fact, or relation; an accidental or nonessential; as, beauty is an accident. [ 1913 Webster ]

This accident, as I call it, of Athens being situated some miles from the sea. J. P. Mahaffy. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Unusual appearance or effect. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Accident, in Law, is equivalent to casus, or such unforeseen, extraordinary, extraneous interference as is out of the range of ordinary calculation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything happening accidentally. [ 1913 Webster ]

He conceived it just that accidentals . . . should sink with the substance of the accusation. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. (Paint.) Those fortuitous effects produced by luminous rays falling on certain objects so that some parts stand forth in abnormal brightness and other parts are cast into a deep shadow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. accidentel, earlier accidental. ] 1. Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according to the usual course of things; casual; fortuitous; as, an accidental visit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Nonessential; not necessary belonging; incidental; as, are accidental to a play. [ 1913 Webster ]

Accidental chords (Mus.), those which contain one or more tones foreign to their proper harmony. --
Accidental colors (Opt.), colors depending on the hypersensibility of the retina of the eye for complementary colors. They are purely subjective sensations of color which often result from the contemplation of actually colored bodies. --
Accidental point (Persp.), the point in which a right line, drawn from the eye, parallel to a given right line, cuts the perspective plane; so called to distinguish it from the principal point, or point of view, where a line drawn from the eye perpendicular to the perspective plane meets this plane. --
Accidental lights (Paint.), secondary lights; effects of light other than ordinary daylight, such as the rays of the sun darting through a cloud, or between the leaves of trees; the effect of moonlight, candlelight, or burning bodies. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Casual; fortuitous; contingent; occasional; adventitious. -- Accidental, Incidental, Casual, Fortuitous, Contingent. We speak of a thing as accidental when it falls out as by chance, and not in the regular course of things; as, an accidental meeting, an accidental advantage, etc. We call a thing incidental when it falls, as it were, into some regular course of things, but is secondary, and forms no essential part thereof; as, an incremental remark, an incidental evil, an incidental benefit. We speak of a thing as casual, when it falls out or happens, as it were, by mere chance, without being prearranged or premeditated; as, a casual remark or encounter; a casual observer. An idea of the unimportant is attached to what is casual. Fortuitous is applied to what occurs without any known cause, and in opposition to what has been foreseen; as, a fortuitous concourse of atoms. We call a thing contingent when it is such that, considered in itself, it may or may not happen, but is dependent for its existence on something else; as, the time of my coming will be contingent on intelligence yet to be received. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Accidental character or effect. Ruskin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being accidental; accidentalness. [ R. ] Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an accidental manner; unexpectedly; by chance; unintentionally; casually; fortuitously; not essentially. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being accidental; casualness. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Aëronautics) The angle between the chord of an aërocurve and the relative direction of the undisturbed air current. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. assidens, p. pr. of assid&unr_;re to sit by: cf. F. assident. See Assession. ] (Med.) Usually attending a disease, but not always; as, assident signs, or symptoms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. bidens, -entis, having two prongs; bis twice + dens a tooth. ] An instrument or weapon with two prongs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having two teeth. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot. & Zool.) Having two teeth or two toothlike processes; two-toothed. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ A sofa having a seat at each end at right angles to the main seats. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. coïncidence. ] 1. The condition of occupying the same place in space; as, the coincidence of circles, surfaces, etc. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The condition or fact of happening at the same time; as, the coincidence of the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Exact correspondence in nature, character, result, circumstances, etc.; concurrence; agreement. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very concurrence and coincidence of so many evidences . . . carries a great weight. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who discourse . . . of the nature of truth . . . affirm a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Coincidence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of two or more coincident events; a coincidence. [ R. ] “Coincidents and accidents.” Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. coïncident. ] Having coincidence; occupying the same place; contemporaneous; concurrent; -- followed by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Christianity teaches nothing but what is perfectly suitable to, and coincident with, the ruling principles of a virtuous and well-inclined man. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Coincident. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With coincidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. confidence. ] 1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. [ 1913 Webster ]

Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence;
Do not go forth to-day. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

But confidence then bore thee on secure
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler; several swindlers often work together to create the illusion of truth; -- also called con game. --
Confidence man, a swindler. --
To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.

Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am confident that very much be done. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be confident to speak, Northumberland;
We three are but thyself. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. [ 1913 Webster ]

As confident as is the falcon's flight
Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Giving occasion for confidence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Confidant. South. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. confidentiel. ] 1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Communicated in confidence; secret. “Confidential messages.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication, under Privileged. --
Confidential creditors, those whose claims are of such a character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors. --
Confidential debts, debts incurred for borrowed money, and regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts. McElrath. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the state or attribute of being secret; privacy; as, you must respect the confidentiality of your client's communications. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. discretion in keeping secret information. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In confidence; in reliance on secrecy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With confidence; with strong assurance; positively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being confident. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. curvus + E. dentate. ] Having curved teeth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. decidens falling off. ] A falling off. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. diffidentia. ] 1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of address. W. Irving.

Syn. -- Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Diffidence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere; dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Defy. ] 1. Wanting confidence in others; distrustful. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You were always extremely diffident of their success. Melmoth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve. [ 1913 Webster ]

The diffident maidens,
Folding their hands in prayer. Longfellow.

Syn. -- Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful; lowly; reserved. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a diffident manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

To stand diffidently against each other with their thoughts in battle array. Hobbes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To turn away from the west; to throw out of reckoning as to longitude. [ Obs. ] Marvell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dissidentia: cf. F. dissidence. See Dissident, a. ] Disagreement; dissent; separation from the established religion. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the dissidence of dissent. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. dissidens, -entis, p. pr. of dissidere to sit apart, to disagree; dis- + sedere to sit: cf. F. dissident. See Sit. ] No agreeing; dissenting; discordant; different. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our life and manners be dissident from theirs. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl.) One who disagrees or dissents; one who separates from the established religion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dissident, habituated and taught to think of his dissidenc&unr_; as a laudable and necessary opposition to ecclesiastical usurpation. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a dissident manner.

n. [ L. dividendum thing to be divided, neut. of the gerundive of dividere: cf. F. dividende. ] 1. A sum of money to be divided and distributed; the share of a sum divided that falls to each individual; a distribute sum, share, or percentage; -- applied to the profits as appropriated among shareholders, and to assets as apportioned among creditors; as, the dividend of a bank, a railway corporation, or a bankrupt estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) A number or quantity which is to be divided. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Dividend; share. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To widen. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Ether. ] (Chem.) Ethylidene. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Chem.) An unsymmetrical, divalent, hydrocarbon radical, C2H4 metameric with ethylene but written thus, CH3.CH= to distinguish it from the symmetrical ethylene, CH2=CH2. Its compounds are derived from aldehyde. Formerly called also ethidene. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. évidence, L. Evidentia. See Evident. ] 1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our senses; evidence of the truth or falsehood of a statement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. Heb. xi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

O glorious trial of exceeding love
Illustrious evidence, example high. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who bears witness. [ R. ] “Infamous and perjured evidences.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) That which is legally submitted to competent tribunal, as a means of ascertaining the truth of any alleged matter of fact under investigation before it; means of making proof; -- the latter, strictly speaking, not being synonymous with evidence, but rather the effect of it. Greenleaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

Circumstantial evidence,
Conclusive evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc. --
Crown's evidence,
King's evidence, or
Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown, in English courts; equivalent to state's evidence in American courts. [ Eng. ] --
State's evidence, evidence for the government or the people. [ U. S. ] --
To turn King's evidence
To turn Queen's evidence, or
To turn State's evidence, to confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices.

Syn. -- Testimony; proof. See Testimony. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Evidenced p. pr. & vb. n. Evidencing ] To render evident or clear; to prove; to evince; as, to evidence a fact, or the guilt of an offender. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who gives evidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. évinent, l. evidens, -entis; e out + videns, p. pr. of videre to see. See Vision. ] Clear to the vision; especially, clear to the understanding, and satisfactory to the judgment; as, the figure or color of a body is evident to the senses; the guilt of an offender can not always be made evident. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your honor and your goodness is so evident. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And in our faces evident the signs
Of foul concupiscence. Milton.

Syn. -- Manifest; plain; clear; obvious; visible; apparent; conclusive; indubitable; palpable; notorious. See Manifest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to, or affording, evidence; indicative; especially, relating to the evidences of Christianity. Bp. Fleetwood. “Evidential tracks.” Earle.. -- Ev`i*den"tial*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Furnishing evidence; asserting; proving; evidential. [ 1913 Webster ]

When a fact is supposed, although incorrectly, to be evidentiary of, or a mark of, some other fact. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]