Definition of "accidence" in English

noun

1. (grammar) The inflection of words.

   • 1669, John Milton, Accedence Commenc’t Grammar (title of a Latin grammar)
   • 1871, Review of An Elementary Greek Grammar by William W. Goodwin, North American Review, Volume 112, No. 231, 1 April, 1871, p. 427, Our best schools send every year to college boys who know their accidence reasonably, and in some cases admirably well […]

2. The rudiments of any subject.

3. A book containing the first principles of grammar; (by extension) a book containing the rudiments of any subject or art.