Accident is a word that may trick some people when it comes to spelling. IPA phonetic transcription can help explain why it's spelled the way it is. The word has three syllables and is pronounced "ak-si-dənt." The first syllable, "ak," is stressed, and the "c" in the second syllable is pronounced as an "s," as in "cell." The third syllable, "-dent," is pronounced like the word "dent." Remembering these pronunciation rules can help ensure that accident is spelled correctly.
Accident, noun:
1. An event or occurrence that happens by chance, without any prior intention, planning, or deliberate action, typically resulting in unexpected or undesirable consequences.
Example: The car collided with a tree due to a driver's momentary loss of concentration; it was a tragic accident.
2. A sudden, unforeseen mishap, calamity, or misfortune that leads to injury, damage, or death.
Example: The building fire was a devastating accident, claiming several lives and leaving many injured.
3. A specific incident that is usually unintentional but could have been prevented under different circumstances.
Example: It was an accident when the child spilled the glass of milk, as he did not do it on purpose.
4. In law, an accident refers to a mishap that occurs unintentionally, resulting in injury or damage, without any intent to cause harm.
Example: The insurance company assessed the car accident scene to determine liability and compensation for the involved parties.
5. An occurrence or situation that deviates from the expected or planned outcome, often resulting in a surprising or fortuitous event.
Example: It was a fortunate accident that I stumbled upon the solution to the complex problem while experimenting with different approaches.
Accidents remind us of the unpredictable nature of life and often highlight the importance of safety measures and precautionary actions to mitigate potential risks. They can occur in various domains, such as transportation, workplace, home, and public spaces, and often call for immediate response, assistance, and investigation to prevent future occurrences.
Something taking place unexpectedly; an event not foreseen; a quality not essential.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "accident" originated from the Latin word "accidens", which was derived from the verb "accidere". "Accidere" is composed of two Latin roots: "ad" meaning "to" or "towards", and "cadere" meaning "to fall". Therefore, the literal meaning of "accident" is "something that falls upon", implying an unforeseen and unintended event. The word has retained its meaning in English since its adoption from Latin.