Accidental lights

Accidental lights
Accidental Ac`ci*den"tal, 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.

Usage: {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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • accidental lights — accidental lights, combinations of light and shade painted into a picture, especially to make certain subjects stand out from the rest of the picture, such as light streaming through foliage; accidentals …   Useful english dictionary

  • Accidental — Ac ci*den tal, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Accidental chords — Accidental Ac ci*den tal, 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Accidental colors — Accidental Ac ci*den tal, 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Accidental point — Accidental Ac ci*den tal, 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • City Lights (ITV series) — Northern Lights/City Lights Format Comedy drama Starring Mark Benton, Robson Green Country of origin …   Wikipedia

  • Accidentalism — is a term with several meanings.* In philosophy, it is used for any system of thought which denies the causal nexus and maintains that events succeed one another haphazardly or by chance (not in the mathematical but in the popular sense). In… …   Wikipedia

  • Lasers and aviation safety — Under certain conditions, laser light or other bright lights (spotlights, searchlights) directed at aircraft can be a hazard. The most likely scenario is when a bright visible laser light causes distraction or temporary flash blindness to a pilot …   Wikipedia

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

  • Disasters — ▪ 2009 Introduction Aviation       January 23, Poland. A Spanish built CASA transport plane carrying members of the Polish air force home from a conference on flight safety in Warsaw crashes near the town of Miroslawiec; all 20 aboard are killed …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”