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occur (v.)

1520s, "meet, meet in argument," from Middle French occurrer "happen unexpectedly" or directly from Latin occurrere "run to meet, run against, befall, present itself," from ob "against, toward" (see ob-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Sense development is from "meet" to "present itself" to "appear" to "happen" ("present itself in the course of events"). Meaning "to come into one's mind" is from 1620s. Related: Occurred; occurring.

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Definitions of occur from WordNet

occur (v.)
come to pass;
Nothing occurred that seemed important
Synonyms: happen / hap / go on / pass off / pass / fall out / come about / take place
occur (v.)
come to one's mind; suggest itself;
It occurred to me that we should hire another secretary
Synonyms: come
occur (v.)
to be found to exist;
precious stones occur in a large area in Brazil
sexism occurs in many workplaces
From wordnet.princeton.edu