accessory

== English == === Alternative forms === accessary === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /əkˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/, /ækˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/ (proscribed) IPA(key): /əˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/ (Indic) IPA(key): /ˈaksəs(ɵ)ri/, /əkˈsɛsɵri/ Homophone: accessary === Etymology 1 === From Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root. ==== Adjective ==== accessory (comparative more accessory, superlative most accessory) 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] (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 Present in a minor amount, and not essential. (medicine, biology) Supernumerary and generally nonfunctional. ===== 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 === From Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root. ==== Noun ==== accessory (plural accessories) Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment. (fashion) An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves. [from 1896] (law) A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator. [from 1414] (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.