accompanying but not a major part of something 附带的,伴随的,非主要的 for the fieldworker who deals with real problems, paperwork is incidental. 对于处理实际问题的实地工作者来说,文书工作不是主要的。 incidental expenses. 附带的开支。 ■occurring by chance in connection with something else 偶然发生的 the incidental catch of dolphins in the pursuit of tuna. 捕捉金枪鱼时偶尔捕到的海豚。
[predic.](incidental to)liable to happen as a consequence of (an activity) 易发生的 the ordinary risks incidental to a fireman's job. 从事消防工作易发生的常见险情。
noun
(一般作 incidentals)an incidental detail, expense, event, etc 杂项;杂费;附带事件 an allowance to cover meals, taxis, and other incidentals. 支付餐费,出租车费和其他杂费的津贴。
语源
early 17th cent.: originally from medieval Latin incidentalis, from Latin incident- 'falling upon, happening to' (from the verb incidere)