accidental

[Fr. acc i dentel.] 1. Occurring suddenly, unexpectedly, and from a cause not immediately discoverable, or, as some of the unphilosophic and irreligious believe, "by chance." "So shall you hear Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters." Shakesp.: Hamlet, v. 2 *2. Adventitious; produced not from the natural qualities of the agent or agency left to itself, but by the influence of something foreign to it. "By such a minister as wind to fire, That adds an accidental fiercene to Its natural fury." Denham : Sophy. 3. Not e ential to, which might be dispensed with, and yet leave the thing to which it pertains, or in which it inheres, unimpaired. "He determined that all the species occurring in this marl, twelve in number, agreed in every respect, even in their accidental variations, with the same species now existing in Yorkshire." Owen : British Fo il Mam . & Birds , p. 168. IMG:content-0078.png:[blocks in formation] change of key, or modulation different from that in which the piece began. For instance, in the key of C natural major, an accidental sharp prefixed to F implies the key of G major, and a flat placed before B implies the key of F major or D minor. (e) Painting. Accidental lights : Secondary lights; effects of light other than ordinary daylight. ( Fairholt .)