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}.
If we inquire what it is that occasions men to make
several combinations of simple ideas into distinct
modes. --Locke.