Oc*ca"sion (&obreve;k*kā"zhŭn),
n. [F. occasion, L. occasio, fr.
occidere, occasum, to fall down; ob (see Ob-
) + cadere to fall. See Chance, and cf.
Occident.] 1. A falling out, happening,
or coming to pass; hence, that which falls out or happens;
occurrence; incident.
The unlooked-for incidents of family history, and its
hidden excitements, and its arduous occasions.
I. Taylor.
2. A favorable opportunity; a convenient or
timely chance; convenience.
Sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
deceived me.
Rom. vii. 11.
I'll take the occasion which he gives to
bring
Him to his death.
Waller.
3. An occurrence or condition of affairs
which brings with it some unlooked-for event; that which incidentally
brings to pass an event, without being its efficient cause or
sufficient reason; accidental or incidental cause.
Her beauty was the occasion of the
war.
Dryden.
4. Need; exigency; requirement; necessity;
as, I have no occasion for firearms.
After we have served ourselves and our own
occasions.
Jer. Taylor.
When my occasions took me into
France.
Burke.
5. A reason or excuse; a motive; a
persuasion.
Whose manner was, all passengers to stay,
And entertain with her occasions sly.
Spenser.
On occasion, in case of need; in necessity;
as convenience requires; occasionally. "That we might have
intelligence from him on occasion," De Foe.
Syn. -- Need; incident; use. See Opportunity.
Oc*ca"sion (&obreve;k*kā"zhŭn), v.
t. [imp. & p. p. Occasioned (-
zhŭnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Occasioning.]
[Cf.F. occasionner.] To give occasion to; to cause; to
produce; to induce; as, to occasion anxiety.
South.
If we inquire what it is that occasions men to
make several combinations of simple ideas into distinct
modes.
Locke.
