incidental vs vital

incidental

adj
  • Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident). 

  • Occurring by chance. 

  • Existing tangentially, being a byproduct, a tangent, or a likely consequence. 

  • Loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accidentally related. 

noun
  • Something that is incidental. 

  • Minor items, not further defined. Incidental expense. 

vital

adj
  • Invigorating or life-giving. 

  • Very important. 

  • Containing life; living. 

  • Necessary to continued existence. 

  • Necessary to the continuation of life; being the seat of life; being that on which life depends. 

  • Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. 

  • Relating to the recording of life events. 

  • Relating to, or characteristic of life. 

How often have the words incidental and vital occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )