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occasion |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Occasion \Oc*ca"sion\ ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n), n. [F. occasion, L. occasio, fr occidere occasum to fall down ob (see {Ob-}) + cadere to fall. See {Chance}, and cf {Occident}.] 1. A falling out happening, or coming to pass; hence that which falls out or happens; occurrence; incident. The unlooked-for incidents of family history, and its hidden excitements, and its arduous occasions. --I. Taylor. 2. A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance; convenience. Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me --Rom. vii. 11. I'll take the occasion which he gives to bring Him to his death. --Waller. 3. An occurrence or condition of affairs which brings with it some unlooked-for event; that which incidentally brings to pass an event, without being its efficient cause or sufficient reason; accidental or incidental cause Her beauty was the occasion of the war. --Dryden. 4. Need exigency; requirement; necessity; as I have no occasion for firearms. After we have served ourselves and our own occasions. --Jer. Taylor. When my occasions took me into France. --Burke. 5. A reason or excuse; a motive; a persuasion. Whose manner was all passengers to stay, And entertain with her occasions sly. --Spenser. {On occasion}, in case of need in necessity; as convenience requires; occasionally. ``That we might have intelligence from him on occasion,'' --De Foe. Syn: Need incident; use See {Opportunity}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Occasion \Oc*ca"sion\ ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Occasioned} (-zh[u^]nd); p. pr & vb n. {Occasioning}.] [Cf.F. occasionner.] To give occasion to to cause to produce; to induce; as to occasion anxiety. --South. If we inquire what it is that occasions men to make several combinations of simple ideas into distinct modes. --Locke. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: occasion n 1: an event that occurs at a critical time; "at such junctures he always had an impulse to leave"; "it was needed only on special occasions" [syn: {juncture}] 2: a vaguely specified social event; "the party was quite an affair" [syn: {affair}, {social occasion}] 3: reason; "there was no occasion for complaint" 4: the time of a particular event; "on the occasion of his 60th birthday" 5: an opportunity to do something "there was never an occasion for her to demonstrate her skill" v : give occasion to
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