In'çi-dent1, a.
a. [Fr. incident, It. & Sp. incidente, Lat. incidens, p. pr. of incidere, to fall into or upon, from prefix in and cadere, to fall.]
Sense 1. Falling or striking upon, as a ray of light upon a reflecting surface.
Sense 2. Coming or happening accidentally, or not in the usual course of things, or not according to expectation or in connection with the main design; falling; casual; fortuitous.
As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so man's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered. Hooker.
Sense 3. Liable to happen; apt to occur; hence, naturally happening or appertaining. “All chances incident to man's frail life.” Shak. “The studies incident to his profession.” Millward.
Sense 4. (Law.) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.
Incident proposition (Logic), one introduced by who, which, whose, whom, &c.; as, Julius, whose surname was Cæsar, overcame Pompey. Watts.