Accident
/ˈæk.sɪ.dənt/noun
An unexpected event, especially one causing damage or injury.
Did you know?Its deepest root is the Latin verb *cadere* meaning “to fall,” the same ancient root behind words like *decay* and *cascade*, so an accident was originally a “happening that falls upon you.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱad-
“to fall”
Latin
Latin
cadere
“to fall”
Late Latin
Latin
accidens
“happening, incident; literally “falling upon””
Old French
Old French
accident
“an event, occurrence; later an unfortunate event”
Middle English
English
accident
“an event or occurrence, especially an unfortunate one”
Modern English
English
accident
“an unexpected event, especially one causing damage or injury”