Word a Day
incidental
What does incidental mean?
incidental (adjective): loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accidentally related.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use incidental in a sentence?
- That character, though colorful, is incidental to the overall plot. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
How do you pronounce incidental?
/ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does incidental come from?
From incident + -al.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “incidental”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “incidental” mean?
extending or lying across; in a crosswise direction; at right angles to the long axis
Not quite: that's what transverse means.
loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accidentally related
Right! That's what “incidental” means.
precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication
Not quite: that's what explicit means.
humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
Not quite: that's what meek means.
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