v. [a. F. coïncide-r (14th c. in Littré), ad. med.L. coincidĕre, f. co- together + incidĕre to fall upon or into, to occur, happen. The med.L. occurs in Astrological use.
(In the 17th c. the L. form was used unchanged.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 134. The principall parts thereof must coincidere and accord.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. ix. § 36. Making three members … coincidere, to interfeer, yea run all into one.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 726. For where the first does hap to be, The last does coincidere)].
1. intr. To fall together and agree in position; to occupy the same area or portion of space (as e.g., the superposed triangles in Euclid I. 8); to be identical in area and position. Said of points, lines, or any geometrical magnitudes.
1715. Cheyne, Philos. Princ. Relig., I. (1725), 260 (J.). If the Equator and Ecliptick had coincided, it would have render’d the annual Revolution of the Earth quite useless.
1756. Simson, Euclid, Axiom, 8. Magnitudes which coincide with one another, that is, which exactly fill the same space, are equal to one another.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 366. A plane … such as coincides with the curved surface of the earth.
1822. Imison, Sci. & Art, I. 68 (ed. Webster). The centre of motion should coincide with the centre of gravity of the wheel.
1880. Haughton, Phys. Geog., vi. 275. The southern boundary coincides with the watershed of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.
2. To occur or happen at the same time; to occupy the same space of time.
1809. Knox & Jebb, Corr., I. 475. Abruptness of sentiment, may very well coincide with length of line.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. xvii. 322. The chief feast of the year … coincided with the Festival of the vintage.
3. To be identical in substance, nature or character; to agree exactly, to be in precise harmony or accord with.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., iii. (1738), 51 (R.). If … this obedience, or practice of reason, coincides with the observation of truth.
1726. Butler, Serm., xii. 253. Thus Morality and Religion, Virtue and Piety, will at last necessarily co-incide, run up into one and the same point.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. v. 104. The true interest of an absolute monarch generally coincides with that of his people.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. x. 440. The description coincides with the authentic letters of the visitors.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. iv. 169. His interest happily coincided with his duty.
4. Of persons: To accord or concur (in opinion, sentiment, etc.).
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), VII. XVII. 322. The Achæans would not coincide with him in opinion.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 268. The great majority … too apprehensive of the consequences of prohibition, to coincide in the recommendation.
1875. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. I. v. 89. Whether we coincide or not in this doctrine.
† 5. To fall in together; to collapse. Obs.
1673. Grew, Anat. Roots, V. § 8. Yet it [the pith] is not to be dryed, after cutting; Because its several parts, will thereupon coincide and become deformed.
