in a general sense, denotes an event, or a particular circumstance of some event.

law, is a thing appertaining to, or following another, that is more worthy or principal. A court-baron is inseparably incident to a manor; and a court of pie-powders to a fair.

Incident diligence, in Scots law, a warrant granted by a lord ordinary in the court of session, for citing witnesses for proving any point, or for production of any writing necessary for preparing the cause for a final determination, or before it goes to a general proof.

a poem, is an episode, or particular action, joined to the principal action, or depending on it.

A good comedy is to be full of agreeable incidents, which divert the spectators, and form the intrigue. The poet ought always to make choice of such incidents as are susceptible of ornament suitable to the nature of his poem. The variety of incidents well conducted makes the beauty of an heroic poem, which ought always to take in a certain number of incidents. to suspend the catastrophe, that would otherwise break out too soon.