SuaviloquyToday’s word

coincidence

Coincidence, n.

Etymology: [Cf. F. coïncidence.]

1. The condition of occupying the same place in space; as, the coincidence of circles, surfaces, etc. Bentley.

2. The condition or fact of happening at the same time; as, the coincidence of the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

3. Exact correspondence in nature, character, result, circumstances, etc.; concurrence; agreement. The very concurrence and coincidence of ao many evidences . . . carries a great weight. Sir M. Hale. Those who discourse . . . of the nature of truth . . . affirm a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness. South.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for coincidence; he lists it under analogy.

Where he writes about it:

Coincidence is complete agreement in some one or more respects; there may be a coincidence in time of most dissimilar events. — from analogy

Synonyms

analogyaffinitycomparisonlikenessparityproportionrelationresemblancesemblancesimilaritysimilesimilitude

Antonyms

collisiondisagreementdisproportiondissimilarityincongruityunlikeness

etymologyWebster’s online