accessory definition Hear it!

ac·ces·sory (ak ses′ər ē, ək-; also ə ses′-)

adjective

  1. extra; additional; helping in a secondary or subordinate way
  2. Geol. occurring in minor amounts in a specified rock; nonessential: accessory minerals are disregarded in classifying rocks
  3. Law acting as an accessory; helping in an unlawful act

Origin: ML accessorius < L accessus, pp. of accedere, accede

noun pl. accessories -·ries

  1. something extra; thing added to help in a secondary way; specif.,
    1. an article worn or carried to complete one's costume, as purse, gloves, etc.
    2. a piece of optional equipment for convenience, comfort, appearance, etc.: the accessories of an automobile
  2. Law a person who, though absent, helps another to break or escape the law; accomplice

Origin: ME accessorie < ML: see accessorythe

ac·ces·so·ry (ăk-sĕsˈə-rē)

noun pl. accessories ac·ces·so·ries
  1. a. A subordinate or supplementary item; an adjunct.
    b. Something nonessential but desirable that contributes to an effect or result. See Synonyms at appendage.
  2. Law
    a. One who incites, aids, or abets a lawbreaker in the commission of a crime but is not present at the time of the crime. Also called accessory before the fact.
    b. One who aids a criminal after the commission of a crime, but was not present at the time of the crime. Also called accessory after the fact.
adjective
  1. Having a secondary, supplementary, or subordinate function.
  2. Law Serving to aid or abet a lawbreaker, either before or after the commission of the crime, without being present at the time the crime was committed.

Origin: Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin accessōrius, from accessor, helper, from Latin accessus, approach; see access .

Related Forms:

  • accessorial acˌces·soˈri·al (-sə-sôrˈē-əl, -sōr-) adjective
  • ac·cesˈso·ri·ly adverb
  • ac·cesˈso·ri·ness noun
Usage Note: Although the pronunciation (ə-sĕsˈə-rē), with no (k) sound in the first syllable, is commonly heard, it is not accepted by a majority of the Usage Panel. In a recent survey, 87 percent of the Panelists disapproved of it. The 13 percent that accepted the pronunciation were divided on usage: more than half accepted the (k)-less pronunciation for all senses. A few approved of it only in fashion contexts, and a few others approved of it only in legal contexts.

Browse dictionary definitions near accessory

  1. accessibly
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  4. accession (legal)
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  1. » accessory
  2. accessory (synonyms)
  3. accessory (legal)
  4. accessory (medical)
  5. accessory (idioms)
  6. accessory adrenal
  7. accessory after the fact
  8. accessory apartment
  9. accessory before the fact
  10. accessory bud