Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Occasional
Oc-ca′sion-al
(ŏk-kā′zhŭn-al)
, Adj.
[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 effortsThe . . .
occasional
writing of the present times. Bagehot.
2.
Produced by accident;
as, the
. occasional
origin of a thing[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
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 explosionWebster 1828 Edition
Occasional
OCCA'SIONAL
,Adj.
1.
Incidental; casual; occurring at times, but not regular or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits. We make occasional remarks on the events of the age.2.
Produced by accident; as the occasional origin of a thing.3.
Produced or made on some special event; as an occasional discourse.Definition 2024
occasional
occasional
English
Adjective
occasional (not comparable)
- Occurring or appearing irregularly from time to time.
- He was mostly solitary, but enjoyed the occasional visitor.
- Not very often.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 7, in The China Governess:
- The highway to the East Coast which ran through the borough of Ebbfield had always been a main road and even now, despite the vast garages, the pylons and the gaily painted factory glasshouses which had sprung up beside it, there still remained an occasional trace of past cultures.
- 2003 April 17, Blake Gopnik, “Art That Advertises Itself; Saatchi's Ornate New Gallery Pits Young British Artists Against the Establishment”, in Washington Post:
- But the truth is that plenty of artists from other countries make work that's bold, naughty or nasty, without getting more than a very occasional headline.
- He took an occasional glass of wine.
-
- Created for a specific occasion.
- Elgar's music was not created to be occasional music for high-school graduations.
- Intended for use as the occasion requires.
- What your living room needs are some occasional chairs.
- Acting in the indicated role from time to time.
- He is an occasional contributor to letters to the editor.
Derived terms
Terms derived from occasional
Translations
limited to certain occasions; not very often
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