[a. F. coïncidence, L. type *coincidentia: see COINCIDENT and -ENCE.]
1. The fact or condition of being coincident; the occupation of the same place or part of space.
1626. Bacon, Sylva (1677), § 224. There can be no Coincidence in the eye, or Visual Point.
1715. Cheyne, Philos. Princ. Relig., I. (1725), 228 (J.). The Coincidence of the Planes of this Rotation, with one another, and with the Plane of the Ecliptick.
1831. Brewster, Newton, I. x. 222. The singleness of the picture arises from the coincidence of the two pictures.
1870. R. M. Ferguson, Electr., 33. This want of coincidence of the points of vertical dip and of maximum intensity.
fig. or transf. 1650. Fuller, Pisgah, V. ii. § 5. By a casuall coincidence some straggling words of the Athenians may meet in the mouths of the veriest Barbarians.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Plato, Wks. I. 304. The rare coincidence, in one ugly body, of the droll and the martyr.
b. (with pl.) A case of coincidence.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857), I. 153. The method of making visual coincidences.
1880. Adams, in Times, 28 Dec., 10/2. The new line-spectra, the real basic lines of those substances which show coincidences.
2. Occurrence or existence at the same time; simultaneous occurrence or existence.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, III. iii. § 8. There might be a casuall coincidence of this feast and his presence at Jerusalem.
1681. More, Expos. Daniel, 257. There is a Coincidence, at least of time.
1722. Susanna Wesley, in Eliza Clarke, Life (1886), 130. There hardly ever was a greater coincidence of unprosperous events in one family.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 297. A happy coincidence of outward plenty with liberal institutions.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., xx. 342. The coincidence of twelve by the clock with noon by the sun-dial … is exact only four times in the year.
3. Exact agreement or correspondence in substance, nature, character, etc.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. v. § 3. Is there not a true coincidence between commutative and distributive justice, and arithmetical and geometrical proportion?
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), VII. v. 88–9 (R.). Those who discourse metaphysically of the nature of truth, as to the reality of the thing, affirm a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), II. xxiv. 352. The coincidence of the religious views of Sir Isaac Newton with those of John Locke.
1876. Grote, Eth. Fragm., iii. 58. These two ends of action are sometimes found in conflict, but more frequently in coincidence.
b. (with pl.) An instance of such agreement or correspondence.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 201. A local coincidence, which … cannot be paralleled.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 256. Evidence arising from various Coincidences.
1790. Paley, Horæ Paul. Rom. ii. 13. Such coincidences may fairly be stated as undesigned.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. App. 724. There is a remarkable series of undesigned coincidences in favour of the belief that [etc.].
4. A notable concurrence of events or circumstances having no apparent causal connection.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Lett. to Friend (Camelot ed.), 185. That he should also take King Francis prisoner upon that day [of his nativity], was an unexpected coincidence.
1821. De Quincey, Confess., Wks. 1863, I. 96. I felt it at the time … as a singular coincidence, that twice [etc.].
1823. Byron, Juan, VI. lxxviii. A ‘strange coincidence,’ to use a phrase By which such things are settled now-a-days.
1829. Scott, Guy M., Introd. The fact, if truly reported, is one of those singular coincidences which occasionally appear.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, xix. 378. It might be only a coincidence.
5. Of persons: Agreement or concurrence (in opinion or sentiment).
1795. Hull Advertiser, 28 Nov., 3/1. Mr. Sturt … expressed his co-incidence with the sentiments of [the Petition].
1800. Wellington, in Owen, Disp., 647. You are already apprized of my entire coincidence in your opinion.
1800. Syd. Smith, Six Serm., 60. A modest coincidence with received opinions above our faculties.
† 6. Falling together, conjunction, blending. Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), II. 83. The Latine Tongue with the coincidence of the Goths language, and other Northern peeple.
