Occasion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈkeɪʒən/

Definitions

1. A moment or event that is considered special or noteworthy
2. A particular time or event marked by importance or celebration
3. A noteworthy point in time when something memorable happens

Etymology: Latin "occasio" literally meant "a falling toward" or "an opportunity," built from "ob-" ("toward, against") and "cadere" ("to fall"). The sense was that of a chance that comes falling your way, the moment when circumstances drop into place. An opportunity to act, and the favourable moment for doing so, were the original senses, and the word came into English through Middle French and Old French. The sense of a planned gathering or celebration developed later, when a specific happening, and the time set for it, came to be called the occasion. The meaning "important special event" is that later, more social sense, and it grew out of the older idea of a convenient moment.

Synonyms: event, instance, happening, occurrence, celebration

Antonyms: none, infrequency