occasion 
is sure to be brought about sooner or later by 
other causes. The idea seems to be vague. 
It is a common error to assign some shock or calamity 
as the efficient and adequate cause of an Insane outbreak, 
whereas the real causality lies further back, and th occur- 
rence in question is only the occasion of its development. 
lluxley and Youinaiu, Physiol, 498. 
6. Causal action ; agency. See def. 4. (a) Unin- . 
tontional action. 
By your occasion Toledo is risen, Segovia altered, Medina 
burned. Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1577), p. 268. 
h>r a time > church here wetite under some hard cen- 
sure by his Oceanian. 
Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 311. 
(ft) Chance ; occurrence ; incident. 
7. A consideration ; a reason for action, not ne- 
cessarily an event that has just occurred. 
You have great reason to do Richard right ; 
Especially for those occasions 
At Kit IKUII Place I told your majesty. 
Shalt., 1 Hen. VI., ill. 1. 166. 
8. Business; affair: chiefly in the plural. 
Mr. Hatherley came over againe this year, but upon his 
owne occasions. Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 301. 
After he had been at the Eastward and expedited some 
occasions there, he and some that depended upon him re- 
turned for England. 
N. Morton, New England's Memorial, p. 108. 
9. A high event; a special ceremony or cele- 
bration ; a function. 
Keep the town for occasions, but the habits should be 
formed to retirement. Emerson, Conduct of Life. 
10. pi. Necessities of nature. Halliwell.Zy 
occasion*, incidentally ; as it happened. 
Mr. Peter by occasion preached one Lord's day. 
Winthrop, Hist New England, II. 26. 
By occasion Oft, by reason of ; on account of ; in case 
of. 
But of the book, by occasion of reading the Dean's an- 
swer to it, I have sometimes some want. 
Donne, Letters, ill. 
On or upon occasion, according to opportunity ; as op- 
portunity offers; incidentally; from time to time. To 
take occasion, to take advantage of the opportunity pre- 
sented by some incident or juncture of circumstances. 
The Bashaw, as he oft used to visit his granges, visited 
him, and tooke occasion so to beat, spume, and revile him 
that, forgetting all reason, he beat out the Tymors braines 
with bis threshing bat. 
Capt. John Smith, True Travels, I. 41. 
To take occasion by the forelock. See/ort<x*2. = Syn. 
2 and 3. Opportunity, Occasion. See opportunity, 2,3, 
and 9. Occurrence, etc. (see exigency), conjuncture, ne- 
cessity. 
occasion (o-ka'zhon), v. t. [= F. occasionner = 
Pr. ocaisonar, ochaisonar, acaizonar = Sp. oca- 
sionar = Pg. occasionar = It. occasionare, < ML. 
occasionare, cause, occasion, < L. occasio(n-), 
a cause, occasion: see occasion, n.] 1. To 
cause incidentally or indirectly; bring about 
or be the means of bringing about or produ- 
cing; produce. 
Full of doubt I stand. 
Whether I should repent me now of sin 
By me done and occasion'd. 
Mil', 1,1, P. L., xiL 475. 
They were occasioned (by y continuance <ft encrease of 
these troubls, and other means which y* Lord raised up 
in those days) to see further into things by the light of 
y word of God. Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 8. 
Let doubt occasion still more faith. 
Browning, Bishop Blougram's Apology. 
2f. To lead or induce by an occasion or oppor- 
tunity ; impel or induce by circumstances ; im- 
pel; lead. 
Being occasioned to leave France, he fell at the length 
upon Geneva. Hooter, Eccles. Polity, Pref., II. 
I have stretched my legs up Tottenham Hill to overtake 
you, hoping your business may occasion you towards Ware. 
/. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 19. 
He, having a great temporal estate, was occasioned there- 
by to have abundance of business upon him. 
JV. Morton, New England's Memorial, p. 279. 
- Syn. 1. To bring about, give rise to, be the cause of. 
OCCasionable (o-ka'zhpn-a-bl), a. [< occasion 
+ -able."] Capable of being caused or occa- 
sioned. [Bare.] 
This practice . . . will fence us against Immoderate dis- 
pleasure occasionable by men's hard opinions, or harsh 
censures passed on us. Barrow, Works, III. xiii. 
occasional (o-ka'zhon-al), a. and n. [= F. oc- 
casionnel = Sp. ocasional = Pg. occasional = It. 
occasional, < ML. occasionalis, of or pertaining 
to occasion, < L. occasio(n-), occasion: see oc- 
casion.'] I. a. 1. Of occasion; incidental; 
hence, occurring from time to time, but with- 
out regularity or system ; made, happening, or 
recurring as opportunity requires or admits: as, 
an occasioiHil smile ; an occasional fit of cough- 
ing. 
There was hi.- ordinary residence, and his avocations 
were but temporary and occasional. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1885X II. 168. 
4071 
From long-continued habit, and more especially from 
the occasional birth of Individuals with a slightly different 
constitution, domestic animals and cultivated plant* be- 
come to a certain extent acclimatised, or adapted to a cli- 
mate different from that proper to the parent-species. 
Hum-in, Var. of Animals and Plants, p. 844. 
No ordinary man. no occasional criminal, would have 
shown himself capable of this combination. 
It. L. Steoenson, Treasure of Franchard. 
2. Called forth, produced, or used on some spe- 
cial occasion or event; suited for a particular 
occasion: as, an occasional discourse. 
What an occatumal mercy had Balaam when his ass 
catechised him ! Donne, Sermons, it 
Milton's pamphlets are strictly occasional, and no longer 
Interesting except as they illustrate him. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d scr., p. 271. 
8f. That serves as or constitutes the occasion 
or indirect cause; causal. 
The ground or occasional original hereof was probably 
the amazement and sudden silence the unexpected appear- 
ance of wolves does often put upon travellers. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., ill. 8. 
Doctrine of occasional causes, in the hist. ofphOos.. 
the doctrine of Arnold Geulincx and other Cartesians, if 
not of Descartes himself, that the fact of the interaction of 
mind and matter (which from the Cartesian point of view 
are absolutely antagonistic) is to be explained by the sup- 
position that God takes an act of the will as the occasion of 
producing a corresponding movement of the body, and a 
state of the bodyas the occasion of producing a correspond- 
ing mental state; occasionalism. Occasional chair, a 
chair not forming part of a set ; an odd chair, often orna- 
mental, sometimes having the seat, back, etc., of fancy 
needlework. Occasional contraband, office, etc. See 
the nouns. Occasional table, a small and portable ta- 
ble, usually ornamental in character, forming part of the 
furniture of a sitting-room, boudoir, or the like. = Syn. 
1. Occasional differs from accidental and casual in exclud- 
ing chance ; it means irregular by some one's selection of 
times : as, occasional visits, gifts, interruptions. 
Il.t A production caused by or adapted to 
some special occurrence, or the circumstances 
of the moment; an extemporaneous composi- 
tion. 
Hereat Mr. Dod (the flame of whose zeal turned all ac- 
cidents into fuel) fell into a pertinent and seasonable dis- 
course (as none better at occasionals) of what power men 
have more than they know of themselves to refrain from 
sin. Fuller, Ch. Hist., XI. v. 87. 
occasionalism (o-ka'zhon-al-izm), n. [< occa- 
sional + -ism.] In philos", the doctrine that 
mind and matter can produce effects upon each 
other only through the direct intervention of 
God; the doctrine of occasional causes. See 
under occasional. 
occasionalist (o-ka'zhon-al-ist), n. [< occasional 
+ -ist.~\ One who holds or adheres to the doc- 
trine of occasional causes. 
occasionality (0-ka-zho-nal'i-ti), n. [< occn- 
sional + -ityT\ The quality or being occasional. 
llnlliiiii. [Bare.] 
occasionally (o-ka'zhon-al-i), adv. 1. From 
time to time, as occasion "demands or opportu- 
nity offers; at irregular intervals ; on occasion. 
2. Sometimes; at times. 
There Is one trick of verse which Emerson occasionally, 
not very often, Indulges In. 0. W. Holmes, Emerson, xiv. 
3f. Casually; accidentally; at random; on 
some special occasion. 
Authority and reason on her wait, 
As one intended first, not after made 
Occasionally. Milton, P. L., vul. 656. 
One of his labouring servants predicted his return, and 
described the livery of his attendant, which he had never 
worn at home, and which had been, without any previous 
design, occasionally given him. Johnson. 
occasionatet (o-ka'zhon-at), v. t. [< ML. occa- 
sional, pp. of occasionare, occasion : see occa- 
sion, .] To occasion. 
The lowest may occasional much ill. 
Dr. II More, Psychathanasia, III. L 34. 
occasionativet(o-ka'zhon-a-tiv), a. [< occa- 
sionate + -ie.] "Serving'as occasion or indirect 
cause. 
There are other cases concerning things unlawful by 
accident, In respect to the evil effect of the same : to wit, 
as they may be impeditlve of good, or causative, or at the 
least (for we must use such words) occasionative. of evil. 
Bp. Sanderson, Promissory Oaths, ill. 11. 
occasioner (o-ka'zhon-er), n. One who occa- 
sions, causes, or produces. 
occasivet (o-ka'siv), a. [< LL. occasivus, set- 
ting, < L. occidere, pp. occasus, fall, set (as the 
sun) : see accident.] Pertaining to the setting 
sun; western. Wright. [Rare.] 
occecation (ok-se-ka'shon), . [< LL. oecoeca- 
titi(n-), a hiding', < L. "occcecare, make blind, 
make dark, bide, < ob, before, + ctecare, make 
blind, < ca>cus, blind : see cecity.] A making or 
becoming blind ; blindness. [Rare.] 
It is an addition to the misery of this Inward oeeeeation, 
etc. Bp. Hall, Occasional Meditations, | 67. 
occidentalist 
Occemyia (ok-Be-nri'i-ii), . [XL. (Kohinean- 
Dwvoidy. lH.">:t), also ih-fi-mi/n, Oiw/iii/in (prop. 
'Oncomyia), < Or. iyiai, OJKOT, size, + pvia, a 
fly.] A genus of dipterous insects of the fam- 
ily CuiiDpiilii-, -riving name to the '><,< ,/////. 
It contains middle-sized and small flies, almost naked or 
but slightly hairy, and black or yellowish-gray In color, 
resembling the species of Zodiim. The metamorphoses 
:ir> unknown. The flies are found on flowers, especially 
rlov.-r and heather. Four arc North American, and few 
are European. 
Occemyidae (ok-se-mi'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Oc- 
i-i inijiu + -idtr,~\ A family of IHptera, named 
by Robineau-Des voidy from the genus Occemyia , 
usually merged in ('onopidir. Also Occemydce. 
occiant, n. A Middle English form of ocean. 
Occident (ok'si-dent), . [< ME. accident, oc- 
cedent, < OF. accident, F. Occident = 8p. Pg. 
It. occidentc, < L. occtden(t-)s, the quarter of the 
setting sun, the west, prop, adj., setting (sc. sol, 
sun), ppr. of occidere, fall, go down, set, < oft. 
before, -I- cadere, fall: see case 1 , cadent, etc.] 
1 . The region of the setting sun ; the western 
part of the heavens; the west: opposed to 
orient. 
The envious clouds are bent 
To dim his glory and to stain the track 
Of his bright passage to the accident. 
Shot., Rich. II., ill. S. 67. 
2. leap, or I. c.] With the definite article, the 
west; western countries; specifically, those 
countries lying to the west of Asia and of that 
part of eastern Europe now or formerly consti- 
tuting in general European Turkey; Christen- 
dom. Various countries, as Russia, may be 
classed either in the Occident or in the Orient. 
Of Iglande, of Irelande, and alle thlr owtt llles, 
That Arthure In the occedente ocupyes att ones. 
Morte Arthure (E. E. T. 8.), L 2360. 
Occident equinoctial, the part of the horizon where the 
sun sets at the equinoxes ; the true west Occident esti- 
val and Occident hibernal, the parts of the horizon 
where the sun sets at the summer and winter solstices 
respectively. 
occidental (ok-si-den'tal), a. and n. [= F. oc- 
cidental = Sp. Pg. occidental = It. occidental. < 
L. occidentalis, of the west, < occiden(t-)s, the 
west: see accident.'] I. a. 1. Of or pertaining 
to the Occident or west; of, pertaining to, or 
characteristic of those countries or parts of the 
earth which lie to the westward. 
Ere twice in murk and occidental damp 
Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp. 
Sha*., All's Well, ii. 1. 166. 
Specifically [cap. or 1. c.](a) Pertaining to or character- 
istic of those countries of Europe defined above as the Occi- 
dent (see Occident, 2), or their civilization and its deriva- 
tives in the western hemisphere : as, Occidental climates ; 
Occidental gold ; Occidental energy and progress. (6) Per- 
taining to the countries of the western hemisphere ; Ameri- 
can as opposed to European. 
It [Spezia] wears that look of monstrous, of more than 
occidental newness which distinguishes all the creations 
of the young Italian state. 
B. James, Jr., Portraits of Places, p. 54. 
2. Setting after the sun: as, an occidental 
planet. 3. Further to the west. 
For the marriage of woman regard the Sun, Venus, and 
Mars. If the [Sun] be oriental, they marry early, or to 
men younger than themselves, as did Queen Victoria ; if 
the be occidental, they marry late, or to elderly men. 
Zadkiel (W. Lilly), Gram, of AstroL, p. 399. 
4. As used of gems, having only an inferior 
degree of beauty and excellence; inferior to 
true (or oriental) gems, which, with but few 
exceptions, come from the East. 
In all meanings opposed to oriental or orient. 
II. n. [cap. or I. c.] A native or an inhabi- 
tant of the Occident or of some Occidental 
country: opposed to Oriental. Specifically (n) A 
native or an inhabitant of western Europe. (6) A native 
or an Inhabitant of the western hemisphere ; an American. 
The hospital [at Warwick] struck me as a little museum 
kept up for the amusement and confusion of those inquir- 
ing Occidentals who are used to seeing charity more dryly 
and practically administered. 
II. James, Jr., Portraits of Places, p. 259. 
occidentalism (ok-si-den'tal-izm), n. [< occi- 
<lcntnl + -ism.1 The habits, manners, peculiar- 
ities, etc., of the inhabitants of the Occident. 
occidentalist (ok-si-den'tal-ist), n. [< occiden- 
tal + -w<.] 1. [cow.] One versed in or en- 
gaged in the study of the languages, literatures, 
institutions, etc., of western countries : opposed 
to Orientalist. 2. A member of an Oriental 
nation who favors the adoption of Occidental 
modes of life and thought. 
At that time [about 1840] the literary society of Moscow 
was divided into two hostile camps the .Slavophils and 
the OccidentalMs. The former wished to develop an in- 
dependent national culture, on the foundation of popular 
conceptions and Greek Orthodoxy, whilst the latter strove 
toadopt and assimilate the intellectual treasures of West- 
ern Europe. D. M. Wallace, Russia, xvi. 
