occasion
/əˈkeɪʒ(ə)n
/- Holidays and other special occasions are marked with singing and dancing.
- Theresa is already working on big celebrations to mark the special occasion in the history of the prominent Association.
- Ceremonies marking many official occasions are held in the country's churches.
Synonyms
- The name-giving ceremony is a formal occasion celebrated by feasting and drinking.
- Mass will be celebrated to mark the occasion and the dinner and party will be held in the Anglers Rest Hotel in Headford.
- In 1974 he was invited to address the US Congress on the occasion of the celebrations marking the American bicentennial.
Synonyms
- Opportunity refers to the occasion suitable for or conducive to the behavior, including such factors as geography and time.
- The occasion arose through the trip of the old people to Poppleton, given by Captain Grace, on the ‘River King’ a few weeks before.
- Ms. Ayotte said she was prepared to issue a formal opinion to that effect if the occasion arose.
Synonyms
- Actually, there is no special occasion or reason to buy the stuff.
- There may be occasion at work and reason at home, for you to lose your cool or balance but that's not helpful so avoid extremes of any kind.
- For the first thirty years of my academic career, I had no occasion and no reason to worry about sports.
Synonyms
- Much sadness was occasioned by the sudden death of well known Claremorris chemist Sean O'Brien at the weekend.
- Patrick was a popular and esteemed member of the local rural community and much sadness was occasioned by his death.
- These rites control the pollution occasioned by death, and also usher the soul from one life to another.
Synonyms
Phrases
on occasion (or occasions)
rise to the occasion
take occasion
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin occasio(n-) 'juncture, reason', from occidere 'go down, set', from ob- 'towards' + cadere 'to fall'.
accident from Late Middle English:
An accident was originally ‘an event, something that happens’, not necessarily a mishap. It came into English via Old French, ultimately from Latin cadere, meaning ‘to fall’, which also gave us words such as cadaver (Late Middle English) ‘someone fallen’, chance, decay (Late Middle English) ‘fall away’, incident (Late Middle English) ‘fall upon’ so ‘happen’; and occasion (Late Middle English). The idea of an event ‘falling’ remains in the English word befall (Old English). Later the meaning of accident evolved into ‘something that happens by chance’, as in the phrase a happy accident. By the 17th century the modern meaning had become established in the language. The full form of the proverb accidents will happen, which dates from the early 19th century, is accidents will happen in the best-regulated families. According to Mr Micawber in Charles Dickens's David Copperfield (1850): ‘Accidents will occur in the best-regulated families; and in families not regulated by…the influence of Woman, in the lofty character of Wife, they must be expected with confidence, and must be borne with philosophy.’ See also adventure