incidentalness
Definition
Noun: The quality or state of being incidental; the property of occurring as a minor, subordinate, or chance accompaniment to something more important.
Usage Examples
- (The fact that it was found by chance, not as the main goal, did not reduce its importance.)
- (The noise was not the main subject; it was an unimportant, accidental addition.)
Advanced Usage
- "The incidentalness of an event" often highlights its lack of central relevance or its accidental nature.
- The incidentalness of his remark made it easy to overlook. (His comment was so minor and off-topic that it was easily ignored.)
Variants and Related Words
Incidental (adj): happening as a minor part or result of something more important.
- The incidental expenses were covered by the travel allowance. (The small, extra costs were paid for.)
Incidentally (adv): by the way; as a chance occurrence.
- Incidentally, I saw your brother at the market. (As a side note, I happened to see him.)
Synonyms
- Accidentalness: the quality of being accidental or happening by chance.
- Contingency: a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
- Peripherality: the state of being on the edge or not central.
Related Idioms
"A matter of chance": something that happens without being planned.
- The meeting was a matter of chance, not design. (It was incidental, not intentional.)
"Bread and butter" (in some contexts): the main, essential part, as opposed to incidental aspects.
- The incidentalness of the side dishes contrasted with the main course. (The side dishes were minor accompaniments.)