1
- 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。
1.1
- 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。
2
- 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。
(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。
词源
early 17th cent.: originally from medieval Latin incidentalis, from Latin incident- 'falling upon， happening to' （from the verb incidere）.