Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
oc·ca·sion \\ə-ˈkā-zhən\\ noun ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin occasion-, occasio, from occidere to fall, fall down, from ob- toward + cadere to fall — more at ob-
, chance
DATE 14th century
1. a favorable opportunity or circumstance
did not have occasion to talk with them2.
a. a state of affairs that provides a ground or reason
the occasion of the discord was their mutual intolerance
b. an occurrence or condition that brings something about; especially : the immediate inciting circumstance as distinguished from the fundamental cause
his insulting remark was the occasion of a bitter quarrel3.
a. happening
, incident
b. a time at which something happens : instance
4.
a. a need arising from a particular circumstance
b. archaic : a personal want or need — usually used in plural
5. plural : affairs,
business
6. a special event or ceremony : celebration
• • •
-
on occasion
transitive verb
(
-sioned ;
oc·ca·sion·ing \\-ˈkāzh-niŋ, -ˈkā-zhə-\\)
DATE 15th century
: bring about
,
cause
occasion
occasion (n.)
late 14c., from O.Fr. occasion, from L. occasionem (nom. occasio) "opportunity, appropriate time," from occasum, pp. of occidere "fall down, go down," from ob "down, away" + cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). The notion is of a "falling together," or juncture, of circumstances. The verb is first attested 1520s.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
☞ occasionoc·ca·sion /
E5keiVn /
noun1. [C] a particular time when sth happens
某次；…的时候:
on this / that occasion 这/那次
I've met him on several occasions. 我曾几次见过他。
I can remember very few occasions when he had to cancel because of ill health. 我记得他因为健康不佳而被迫取消的情况绝无仅有。
They have been seen together on ten separate occasions. 他们有两次被人看见在一起。
On six occasion, she called me in the middle of the night. 有一次她深更半夜打电话给我。
He used the occasion to announce further tax cuts. 他利用这个机会宣布再次减税。2. [C] a special event, ceremony or celebration
特别的事情(或仪式、庆典):
a great / memorable / happy occasion 伟大的/难忘的/欢乐的庆典
Turn every meal into a special occasion. 要把每一顿饭都弄得特别一些。
They marked the occasion (= celebrated it) with an open-air concert. 他们举办露天音乐会来庆祝这个特别的时刻。
Their wedding turned out to be quite an occasion. 他们的婚礼办得相当隆重。
He was presented with the watch on the occasion of his retirement. 他在退休时获赠这块手表。3. [sing.] ~ (for sth / doing sth) a suitable time for sth
适当的机会；时机:
It should have been an occasion for rejoicing, but she could not feel any real joy. 原本应该是高兴的时刻,她却丝毫未感到快乐。
I'll speak to him about it if the occasion arises (= if I get a chance). 有机会的话,我要跟他谈谈这件事。4. [U, sing.] ~ (to do sth) |
~ (of / for sth) (
formal) a reason or cause
理由；原因:
I've had no occasion to visit him recently. 我最近无缘去拜访他。
Her death was the occasion of mass riots. 她的逝世引发了大规模的骚乱。
I'm willing to go to court over this if the occasion arises (= if it becomes necessary). 如果必要的话,我愿意就此出庭。 IDIOMS ▪ on oc'casion(s)
sometimes but not often
偶尔；偶然；有时:
He has been known on occasion to lose his temper. 大家都知道他有时会发脾气。⇨ more at
sense
n.
verb (
formal) to cause sth
使发生；造成；导致:
▪ [VN]
The flight delay was occasioned by the need for a further security check. 这次航班的延误是由于必须做进一步的安全检查。
▪ [VNN]
The decision occasioned us much anxiety. 这个决定让我们忧虑不堪。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishoccasion
noun
1 time when sth happens
ADJ. many, numerous It was the first of many such occasions. | rare | previous | separate
VERB + OCCASION recall, remember
PREP. on an/the ~ The police were called out on 24 separate occasions. | on ~(s) He has even been known to go shopping himself on occasion.
PHRASES a number of occasions I have stayed there on a number of occasions. | on one occasion On one occasion he even rang me in the middle of the night. | on that/this ~ On this occasion, as it happens, the engine started immediately.
2 suitable time
ADJ. right, suitable
OCCASION + VERB arise I'll speak to him if the occasion arises.
PREP. ~ for It should have been an occasion for rejoicing.
PHRASES have occasion to do sth Last year we had occasion to visit relatives in Cornwall.
3 special event
ADJ. auspicious, big, great, important, memorable, momentous, special | festive, happy, joyous | formal, sad, solemn | social | ceremonial, state The Queen's coach is only used for state occasions.
VERB + OCCASION celebrate, mark a party to mark the occasion of their daughter's graduation | rise to The choir rose to the occasion and sang beautifully.
PHRASES for all occasions, for every occasion We sell cards and notepaper for all occasions. | a sense of occasion On the day of the wedding there was a real sense of occasion.
occasion noun
⇨ event 2 (a special occasion)
⇨ opportunity (if the occasion arises)
⇨ time 1 (on several occasions)
⇨ on occasion(s) ⇨ sometimes adv.
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
oc·ca·sionI. \əˈkāzhən\
noun
(
-s)
Etymology: Middle English
occasioun, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French
occasion, from Latin
occasion-, occasio, from
occasus (past participle of
occidere to fall down, from
ob- + cadere to fall) +
-ion-, -io -ion — more at
chance
1. : a situation or set of circumstances favorable to a particular purpose or development
: a timely chance
: opportunity
< rose to the occasion >
< was equal to the occasion >
< took occasion by the forelock >
< only those living in exceptionally fortunate localities had occasion to grow surplus products — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington >
< while the new science has achieved wonders in medicine and surgery, it has also produced and spread occasions for diseases and weaknesses — John Dewey >2.
a. : something that produces an effect or brings about an event
< a formula that has been the occasion for a considerable amount of misunderstanding — I.A.Richards >
< any occasion which prompts a mind to ask some fundamental question — Hunter Mead >
< an occasion of sin >
b. : something that helps to bring about an event or produce an effect without directly causing it
: a contributing or incidental cause
< the birthday … was merely the occasion, not the cause, of the guests' effusions — Lillian Ross >
< the specific occasion of the poem is not known — C.S.Kilby >
< a casual mention of the house by a friend was the occasion of their buying it >
< an inspiring teacher was the occasion of his great achievements in science >3. : a circumstance, occurrence, or state of affairs that provides ground or reason for something
< there is no occasion for alarm: it is a very mild illness >
< his graduation with honors is occasion for celebration >4.
a. : a particular occurrence
: happening
,
incident
< well adapted for treatment as a row of detached episodes or occasions — Percy Lubbock >
< everybody has been terribly kind since my recent sad occasion — Thomas Kelly >
b. : a particular time at which something takes place
: a time marked by some happening
< on the occasion of his daughter's wedding >
< on the occasion of the signing of the peace treaty >5.
a. : a need arising from a particular circumstance
: exigency
,
requirement
< there had been no occasion for being so definite — Sherwood Anderson >
< knowledge for which he will never have any occasion — C.H.Grandgent >
b. archaic : a personal want or need — usually used in plural
< my purse, my person, my extremest means lie all unlock'd to your occasions — Shakespeare >6. occasions plural : something that one has to do
: necessary affairs
: business
< minded his own occasions and was content to let other folk mind theirs — S.H.Adams >
< going about their lawful or unlawful occasions all over the seven seas — Douglas Bush >7.
a. : a religious ceremonial;
specifically : a Scottish communion service
b. : a special event or ceremony
: celebration
< he liked the occasion — the Changing of the Guard of St. James's Palace, parties, and balls, and such things as that — Basil Taylor >
< sat in the big parlor as though this was an occasion — Agnes S. Turnbull >Synonyms: see cause
,
opportunity
•
-
on occasion
II. transitive verb
(
-ed/-ing/-s)
1. : to give occasion to
: bring about
: give rise to
: cause
< a violent storm occasioned a new delay of two weeks — Oscar Handlin >
< social and commercial intercourse will occasion movement of language — Charlton Laird >2. : to cause to do something
< was almost at the end of his financial resources, which fact occasioned him to turn away from a pretentious hotel — Zane Grey >
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