English > English |
|
by accident |
1. adv. Accidentally; unintentionally; without meaning to; as the result of an event not expected, aided, or designed by one's will. |
|
Sorry. I knocked over the vase by accident. |
|
2. adv. As the result of some undesigned, unintended, unrelated, natural, or random occurrence; as the unexpected and unforeseen result of formerly unrelated factors. |
|
The car got totaled by accident; a giant snowdrift fell off the church roof. |
|
The only way that project still exists today is by accident; I thought we closed it years ago. |
|
The scholar thinks the quote and the parable were spoken on different occasions and only by accident were brought together here. |
|
3. adv. By chance; unexpectedly; as the result of an unrelated series of events. |
|
I hadn't seen her for years, but I ran into her by accident at the store. |
|
She overheard the information by accident. |
|
4. adj. Accidental; as the result of some unforeseen happening or series of events; unexpected; resulting from an event without the foresight, expectation, aid, or design of the person by whose agency it was |
|
The victim's death was by accident. |
|
That the injury was by accident is not questioned. |
|
Analysis |
|
by |
1. prep. Near or next to. |
|
The mailbox is by the bus stop. |
|
2. prep. At some time before (the given time), or before the end of a given time interval. |
|
Be back by ten o'clock! We will send it by the first week of July. |
|
3. prep. Indicates the actor in a clause with its verb in the passive voice: Through the action or presence of. |
|
accident |
1. n. An unexpected event with negative consequences occurring without the intention of the one suffering the consequences. |
|
to die by an accident |
|
2. n. (transport, vehicle) Especially, a collision or similar unintended event that causes damage or death. |
|
There was a huge accident on I5 involving 15 automobiles. |
|
My insurance went up after the second accident in three months. |
|