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Origin and history of occurrence

occurrence(n.)

"that which presents itself, that which happens without design or expectation," 1530s, from French occurrence "unexpected happening" or directly from Medieval Latin occurrentia, from Latin occurentem (nominative occurens), present participle of occurrere (see occur). The adjective occurrent "occurring, happening, incidental" (mid-15c.) is long obsolete.

Entries linking to occurrence

1520s, "meet, meet in argument," from French occurrer "happen unexpectedly" or directly from Latin occurrere "run to meet, run against, befall, present itself," from ob "against, toward" (see ob-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Sense development is from "meet" to "present itself" to "appear" to "happen" ("present itself in the course of events"). Meaning "to come into one's mind" is from 1620s. Related: Occurred; occurring.

also re-occurrence, "a further occurrence," 1804; see re- "again" + occurrence. Also compare recurrence.

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