accidence

Meanings

1. The inflection of words.
2. The rudiments of any subject.
3. A book containing the first principles of grammar; (by extension) a book containing the rudiments of any subject or art.

Etymology

* First attested in the late 14th century. * (grammar): First attested in the mid 15th century. * From Middle English accidence, accidens, from Latin accidentia (“accidental matters”), from accidēns, present participle of accidere (“to happen”)