occasional
UK[əˈkeɪʒənəl]US[əˈkeɪʒənəl]
adj
Happening or done sometimes, but not regularly or often.
adj
Created or used for a special event or situation.
Morpheme Breakdown
oc
casion
al
oc
toward, against, in the way of
casion
a fall, chance, event
al
of, relating to, or characterized by
Etymology
The word 'occasional' originates from the Latin phrase 'occasio', which itself derives from 'ob-' (toward) and 'cadere' (to fall). The literal sense was 'a falling toward', implying a juncture or event that presents itself. Over time, this evolved to mean a particular time or circumstance, especially one giving rise to something. The adjective 'occasional' thus describes something that pertains to or happens at such an irregular event or juncture, rather than on a regular basis.
Analysis
Structure: oc + casion + al
- oc: A variant of the Latin prefix 'ob-', meaning 'toward, against, in the way of'. It assimilates before 'c'.
- casion: From Latin 'casus', meaning 'a fall, chance, event'. It is the root for 'case' and 'occasion'.
- al: A Latin adjectival suffix meaning 'of, relating to, or characterized by'.
Examples
He enjoys an occasional glass of wine with dinner.
She works as an occasional contributor to the magazine.
The house is perfect for our occasional visits to the coast.