accessory

English Online Dictionary. What means accessory‎? What does accessory mean?

English

Alternative forms

• (noun): accessary

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /əkˈsɛsəɹi/, /ækˈsɛsəɹi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əkˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/, /ækˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/
• Homophone: accessary

Etymology 1

First attested in 1550s. From Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root.

Adjective

accessory (comparative more accessory, superlative most accessory)

1. Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; contributing or being contributory.

2. (law) Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal.

   Hypernym: accomplice

   Coordinate term: principal

3. Present in a minor amount, and not essential.

   accessory mineral

Usage notes

• (secondary, supplementary): Said of things and actions, very rarely of people (and then usually in a humorous version of the legal sense, or due to confusion between the noun and the adjective).

Synonyms

• (having a secondary function): accompanying, contributory, auxiliary, subsidiary, subservient, additional, acceding

Translations

Etymology 2

• (legal): First attested in 1414.
• (fashion): First attested in 1896.

Noun

accessory (plural accessories)

1. Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.
2. (fashion) An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves.
3. (law) A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator.
4. (art) Something in a work of art without being indispensably necessary, for example solely ornamental parts.

Synonyms

• (something that belongs to part of another main thing): accompaniment, addition, attachment, supplement; See also Thesaurus:adjunct
• (one who assists in or instigates an offense): abettor, accomplice, ally, coadjutor, accessary

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Hebrew: אַקְסֵסוֹרִי (aksésori)
• → Japanese: アクセサリー (akusesarī)
• → Korean: 액세서리 (aekseseori)

Translations

References

• “accessory”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.