Basic Details
Word: Adventitious
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Happening by chance rather than design; occurring accidentally.
Synonyms: Accidental, incidental, fortuitous
Antonyms: Intentional, planned, deliberate
Idioms and Phrases
- Adventitious benefit: A good result that occurs unexpectedly. Example: "The adventitious benefit of joining the club was meeting new friends who shared my interests."
- By adventitious means: Achieving something in an unexpected way. Example: "She found the rare book by adventitious means, happening to glance at a market stall."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The scientist discovered an adventitious reaction in the experiment that led to a groundbreaking result.
Example 2: His adventitious arrival at the party was a pleasant surprise for everyone.
Example 3: Many adventitious plants can thrive in unusual environments, adapting to unexpected conditions.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the term "adventitious" comes from the Latin word "adventicius," meaning "coming from outside"? It is often used in biology to refer to plants that grow in unexpected places.
Famous Quote
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." - Helen Keller
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "adventitious" mean?
a) Happening by design
b) Happening by chance
c) Very planned
d) Always successful
Answer: b) Happening by chance
2. Which of these is a synonym of "adventitious"?
a) Deliberate
b) Accidental
c) Planned
d) Certain
Answer: b) Accidental
3. Which is an antonym of "adventitious"?
a) Intentional
b) Fortuitous
c) Incidental
d) Accidental
Answer: a) Intentional
4. Which sentence uses "adventitious" correctly?
a) He made an adventitious decision after careful planning.
b) Her adventitious discovery changed the course of the project.
c) The adventitious train left on time every day.
d) The adventitious garden was carefully arranged.
Answer: b) Her adventitious discovery changed the course of the project.
5. Which idiom relates to "adventitious"?
a) By adventitious means
b) As rare as hen's teeth
c) Walking on eggshells
d) Under the weather
Answer: a) By adventitious means
