ACCIDENS
, Accident, Philos.
Per Accidens is a term often used among philosophers, to denote what does not follow from the nature of a thing, but from some accidental quality of it: in this sense it stands opposed to per se, which denotes the nature and essence of a thing. Thus, fire is said to burn per se, or considered as sire, and not per accidens; but a piece of iron, though red-hot, only burns per accidens, by a quality accidental to it, and not considered as iron.
Accidents, in Astrology, denote the most extraordinary occurrences in the course of a person's life, either good or bad: such as a remarkable instance of good fortune, a signal deliverance, a great sickness, &c.
