Accessory

English

Alternative forms

• accessary

Transliteration Pronunciation

• Katakana: アクセサリー (akusesarī)
• Hangul: 액세서리 (aek-se-seo-ri)
• Anglo-Saxon Runes: ᚪᚳᛋᛖᛋᚪᚱᛁ (ə-k-s-e-s-ə-r-i) / ᚫᚳᛋᛖᛋᚪᚱᛁ (æ-k-s-e-s-ə-r-i)

Etymology 1

From Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor ("helper, subordinate"), from accessus. Compare access, from the 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. (from 1550s)
2. (legal) Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal.
3. (medicine, biology) Supernumerary and generally nonfunctional.

Etymology 2

From Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor ("helper, subordinate"), from accessus. Compare access, from the same root.

Noun

accessory (plural accessories)

1. Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.

   the accessories of a mobile phone

2. (fashion) An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves. (from 1896)
3. (legal) A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator. (from 1414)

   She was an accessory to the murder because she helped him commit and probably also conceal the crime.

4. (art) Something in a work of art without being indispensably necessary, for example solely ornamental parts.

References

• Webster's Dictionary (1913)
• Online Etymology Dictionary — accessory (adj.)
• Online Etymology Dictionary — accessory (n.)
• Middle English Dictionary Online — accessō̆rie (n.)
• Oxford English Dictionary Online — accessory (n. and adj.)