Found 1 items, similar to Occasional cause.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Occasional cause Occasional \Oc*ca"sion*al\ ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n*al), a. [Cf. F. occasionnel.] 1. Occuring at times, but not constant, regular, or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits; casual; incidental; as, occasional remarks, or efforts. [1913 Webster] The . . . occasional writing of the present times. --Bagehot. [1913 Webster] 2. Produced by accident; as, the occasional origin of a thing. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] 3. Of or pertaining to an occasion or to occasions; intended for a specific occasion; for use only when needed, and not regularly. [PJC] Occasional cause (Metaph.), some circumstance preceding an effect which, without being the real cause, becomes the occasion of the action of the efficient cause; thus, the act of touching gunpowder with fire is the occasional, but not the efficient, cause of an explosion. [1913 Webster]