accidental

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Happening by chance and not on purpose.

   The discovery was purely accidental.

2. 2
   noun

   In music, a symbol that raises or lowers a note outside the key signature.

   The sharp before that note is an accidental.

From Middle English accidental, from Anglo-Norman accidentel, Middle French accidentel, accidental, and their source, Late Latin accidēntālis; corresponding to accident + -al.

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