incidence etymology

Etymology and Origin of "Incidence"

The word "incidence" originates from the Latin verb "incidere," which means "to fall upon" or "to cut into." It is derived from the prefix "in-", meaning "into," and the root "caedere," meaning "to cut."

Meaning and Usage of "Incidence"

In its original Latin meaning, "incidence" referred to the act of cutting or falling upon something. Over time, it has evolved to have various meanings in different fields:

Statistics and Mathematics:

  • Occurrence: The number of times a specific event or occurrence takes place within a defined population or timeframe.
  • Frequency: The ratio of the number of occurrences to the total number of observations.
  • Rate: The number of occurrences per unit of time or population.

Physics:

  • Angle of Incidence: The angle at which a wave (e.g., light, sound) strikes a surface.
  • Critical Angle: The minimum angle of incidence at which total internal reflection occurs.

Medicine and Epidemiology:

  • Incidence Rate: The number of new cases of a disease per unit of time or population.
  • Incidence Density: The number of new cases per unit of time and population at risk.

Other Fields:

  • Finance: The occurrence of a specific financial event (e.g., bankruptcy, default).
  • Law: The occurrence of a legal event (e.g., a crime, a breach of contract).
  • General Usage: A happening or occurrence, often with negative or undesirable consequences.

incidence relate terms

  • incident

    Etymology The word incident derives from the Latin word incidere which means to fal

  • frequency

    Etymology The word frequency comes from the Latin word frequentia which means a fr

  • relative

    Etymology Relative derives from the Latin relativus meaning pertaining to a relati

  • peremptory

    Etymology peremptory adj Middle English peremptorie 15th century from Latin pere

  • lugubrious

    Etymology From Latin lugubris mournful dismal from Proto Indo European s leug

  • terrific

    Etymology Middle English from Anglo French terrifien from Latin terrificāre from te

  • render

    Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

  • kudos

    Etymology Late Latin quod deus meaning because God wills it as God wills it Mediev

  • favor

    Etymology The word favor originates from the Old French word faveur which in turn co

  • Memphis

    Etymology and Meaning The name Memphis originates from the ancient Egyptian word Men n

  • pastoral

    Etymology The word pastoral derives from the Latin word pastor meaning shepherd I