incidentally
adverbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntl̩i//
- United States//ˌɪnsəˈdɛn(t)l̩i//
In an incidental manner. By happenstance; in a particular case which has little to no bearing on, and little to no causal relation to, any other case.
adverb
- 1
In an incidental manner. By happenstance; in a particular case which has little to no bearing on, and little to no causal relation to, any other case.
Near-synonyms: coincidentally, happenstantially, circumstantially, by chance, accidentally, semirandomly, randomly
- 2
In an incidental manner. Not of central or critical importance.
Near-synonym: in passing
The book discussed the subject, but only incidentally.
Nor, will the tragic dramatist who would depict mortal indomitableness in its fullest sweep and direct swing, ever forget a hint, incidentally so important in his art, as the one now alluded to.
Not everybody welcomes standardisation as a principle, because it reduces variety (and, incidentally, tends to dispose of the quainter and more picturesque anomalies).
- 3
In an incidental manner. Parenthetically, by the way.
Incidentally, did you hear anything new from your brother yesterday?
Etymology
Etymology tree English incidental Middle English -ly English -ly English incidentally From incidental + -ly.
Forms
- comparative
- more incidentally
- superlative
- most incidentally
incidentally · In an incidental manner. By happenstance; in a particular case which has little to no bearing on, and little to no causal relation to, any other case.
incision · A cut, especially one made by a scalpel or similar medical…inclined · At an angle to the horizontal; slanted or sloped.include · To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part…