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 (k*k"zhn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Occasioned (- zhnd); 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.
Oc*ca"sion*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being occasioned or caused. Barrow.
Oc*ca"sion*al (?), a. [Cf.F. occasionnel.] 1. Of or pertaining to an
occasion or to occasions; occuring at times, but not constant, regular,
or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits;
casual; incidental; as, occasional remarks, or efforts.
The . . . occasional writing of the present times.
Bagehot.
2. Produced by accident; as, the occasional origin of a thing. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
Occasional cause (Metaph.), some circumstance preceding an effect
which, without being the real cause, becomes the occasion of the action
of the efficient cause; thus, the act of touching gunpowder with fire
is the occasional, but not the efficient, cause of an explosion.
Oc*ca"sion*al*ism (?), n. (Metaph.) The system of occasional causes; --
a name given to certain theories of the Cartesian school of
philosophers, as to the intervention of the First Cause, by which they
account for the apparent reciprocal action of the soul and the body.
Oc*ca`sion*al"i*ty (?), n. Quality or state of being occasional;
occasional occurrence. [R.]
Oc*ca"sion*al*ly (?), adv. In an occasional manner; on occasion; at
times, as convenience requires or opportunity offers; not regularly.
Stewart.
The one, Wolsey, directly his subject by birth; the other, his
subject occasionally by his preferment.
Fuller.