accidental
/ˌæk.sɪˈdɛn.tl̩/ noun C2- A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything happening accidentally.
- 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.
- A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note.
- Part of a text that has a mainly structural purpose, such as spelling, punctuation, or capitalization.
Plural accidentals
From the library
Phelps never said so, and nobody else knew anything of the matter, then the thief’s presence in the room was purely accidental.
Bingley had not been of age two years when he was tempted, by an accidental recommendation, to look at Netherfield House.
At that ball, while I had the honour of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir William Lucas’s accidental information, that Bingley’s attentions to your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage.
Since we have been so unfortunate as to miss him and have no notion of his errand, this accidental souvenir becomes of importance.
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