Hypertext Webster Gateway: "occasion"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Occasion \Oc*ca"sion\ ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n), n. [F. occasion, L.
occasio, fr. occidere, occasum, to fall down; ob (see {Ob-})
+ cadere to fall. See {Chance}, and cf. {Occident}.]
1. A falling out, happening, or coming to pass; hence, that
which falls out or happens; occurrence; incident.

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}.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Occasion \Oc*ca"sion\ ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
{Occasioned} (-zh[u^]nd); 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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

occasion
n 1: an event that occurs at a critical time; "at such junctures
he always had an impulse to leave"; "it was needed only
on special occasions" [syn: {juncture}]
2: a vaguely specified social event; "the party was quite an
affair" [syn: {affair}, {social occasion}]
3: reason; "there was no occasion for complaint"
4: the time of a particular event; "on the occasion of his 60th
birthday"
5: an opportunity to do something; "there was never an occasion
for her to demonstrate her skill"
v : give occasion to


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