Occasion

//əˈkeɪʒən// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance. countable, uncountable

    "At this point, she seized the occasion to make her own observation."

  2. 2
    an event that occurs at a critical time wordnet
  3. 3
    The time when something happens. countable, uncountable

    "On this occasion, I'm going to decline your offer, but next time I might agree."

  4. 4
    a formal or official social gathering or ceremony of people wordnet
  5. 5
    An occurrence or state of affairs which causes some event or reaction; a motive or reason. countable, uncountable

    "I had no occasion to feel offended, however."

Show 9 more definitions
  1. 6
    a rational motive for a belief or action wordnet
  2. 7
    Something which causes something else; a cause. countable, uncountable

    "[I]t were too vile to ſay, and ſcarce to be beleeued, what we endured: but the occaſion was our owne, for want of prouidence, induſtrie and gouernment, […]"

  3. 8
    an opportunity to do something wordnet
  4. 9
    An occurrence or incident. countable, obsolete, uncountable
  5. 10
    the time of a particular event wordnet
  6. 11
    A particular happening; an instance or time when something occurred. countable, uncountable

    "I could think of two separate occasions when she had deliberately lied to me."

  7. 12
    A need; requirement, necessity. countable, uncountable

    "I have no occasion for firearms."

  8. 13
    A special event or function. countable, uncountable

    "Having people round for dinner was always quite an occasion at our house."

  9. 14
    A reason or excuse; a motive; a persuasion. countable, uncountable

    "VVhoſe manner was all paſſengers to ſtay, / And entertaine with her occaſions ſly, […]"

Verb
  1. 1
    To cause; to produce; to induce transitive

    "It is seen that the mental changes are occasioned by a change of polarity."

  2. 2
    give occasion to wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”).

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