accidence

The inflection of words.

To teach Schollars how to bee able to reade well, and write true Orthography, in a short space. 2. To make them ready in all points of Accedence and Grammar, to answere any necessary question therein.

1669, John Milton, Accedence Commenc’t Grammar (title of a Latin grammar)

The rudiments of any subject.

When Franklin, playing with his kite in a thunderstorm, brought down sparks from the heavens, he was learning the accidence of that science of Electricity which has given us the Telegraph and Telephone […]

A book containing the first principles of grammar; (by extension) a book containing the rudiments of any subject or art.

And forsomuch as this treateth of blazon of Armes, and of the worthie bearers of them […] I therefore, have named this, the Accedence of Armorie […]

Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits nothing in the world at his book. I pray you, ask him some questions in his accidence.