Occasional cause

Occasional cause
Occasional Oc*ca"sion*al ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n*al), a. [Cf. F. occasionnel.] 1. Occuring at times, but not constant, regular, or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits; casual; incidental; as, occasional remarks, or efforts. [1913 Webster]

The . . . occasional writing of the present times. --Bagehot. [1913 Webster]

2. Produced by accident; as, the occasional origin of a thing. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

3. Of or pertaining to an occasion or to occasions; intended for a specific occasion; for use only when needed, and not regularly. [PJC]

{Occasional cause} (Metaph.), some circumstance preceding an effect which, without being the real cause, becomes the occasion of the action of the efficient cause; thus, the act of touching gunpowder with fire is the occasional, but not the efficient, cause of an explosion. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • occasional cause — noun 1. a. : a mental state (as desire or decision) considered as the occasion but not the real cause of a physical phenomenon (as bodily behavior) b. : a physical phenomenon considered similarly as the occasion of a mental state compare… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Occasional — Oc*ca sion*al ([o^]k*k[=a] zh[u^]n*al), a. [Cf. F. occasionnel.] 1. Occuring at times, but not constant, regular, or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits; casual; incidental; as, occasional remarks, or efforts. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • occasional — adj. 1 happening irregularly and infrequently. 2 made or meant for, or associated with, a special occasion. 3 acting on a special occasion. Phrases and idioms: occasional cause a secondary cause; an occasion (see OCCASION n. 4). occasional table… …   Useful english dictionary

  • occasional causes — see under ↑occasion • • • Main Entry: ↑cause …   Useful english dictionary

  • occasional — adjective Date: circa 1631 1. a. of or relating to a particular occasion < a budget able to meet occasional demands as well as regular ones > b. created for a particular occasion < occasional verse > 2. acting as the occasion or contributing… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • occasional — /əˈkeɪʒənəl / (say uh kayzhuhnuhl) adjective 1. occurring or appearing from time to time, not at regular intervals: an occasional visitor. 2. a. created for a particular occasion: an occasional verse. b. designed for use at some great occasion of …  

  • occasional — occasionalness, occasionality, n. /euh kay zheuh nl/, adj. 1. occurring or appearing at irregular or infrequent intervals; occurring now and then: an occasional headache. 2. intended for supplementary use when needed: an occasional chair. 3.… …   Universalium

  • occasional — oc•ca•sion•al [[t]əˈkeɪ ʒə nl[/t]] adj. 1) occurring or appearing at irregular or infrequent intervals: an occasional headache[/ex] 2) fur intended for supplementary use when needed: an occasional chair[/ex] 3) pertaining to, arising out of, or… …   From formal English to slang

  • occasional — For the occasion; not regularly; pertaining to the cause; causal …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • An Occasional Discourse on the Nigger Question — Occasional Discourse on the Nigger Question is an essay written by Thomas Carlyle. It was first published in Fraiser s Magazine of London in 1849 and was reprinted in a pamphlet of the same name in 1853. It was the spark of the Carlyle Mill Negro …   Wikipedia

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