n.
   - an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally.
 - something that happens by chance or without apparent cause. 
▸chance:
 we met by accident.
 - Philosophy  a property of a thing which is not essential to its nature.
 
 
  Etymology
  ME (in the sense ‘an event’): via OFr. from L. accident-, accidere, from ad- ‘towards, to’ + cadere ‘to fall’.