mindmap root((偶然)) accidental retains its basic notion of chance occurrence but may also imply nonessential character: the essential and ~ values of an education. incidental suggests a real, sometimes a designed, relationship, but one which is secondary and nonessential: expenses ~ to the performance of her job. adventitious implies a lack of essential relationship and may suggest casual addition or irrelevance: avoided elaborate designs with superfluous or ~ elements. accidental stresses chance or unexpected occurrence: any resemblance to actual persons is entirely ~. fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause: believes that life is more than a series of ~ events. casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent: a ~ encounter of two acquaintances. contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events: the ~ effects of a proposed amendment to the constitution.