accessory

[ ak-ses-uh-ree ]
See synonyms for: accessoryaccessories on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural ac·ces·so·ries.
  1. a subordinate or supplementary part, object, or the like, used mainly for convenience, attractiveness, safety, etc., as a spotlight on an automobile or a lens cover on a camera.

  2. an article or set of articles of dress, as gloves, earrings, or a scarf, that adds completeness, convenience, attractiveness, etc., to one's basic outfit.

  1. Law.

    • Also called accessory before the fact . a person who, though not present during the commission of a felony, is guilty of having aided and abetted another, who committed the felony.

    • Also called accessory after the fact . a person who knowingly conceals or assists another who has committed a felony.: Compare principal (def. 9b).

  2. Anatomy. accessory nerve.

adjective
  1. contributing to a general effect; supplementary; subsidiary.

  2. Law. giving aid as an accessory.

Origin of accessory

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English accessorie (from Middle French ), from Medieval Latin accessōrius. See accede, -tory1

synonym study For accessory

1. See addition.

Other words for accessory

Other words from accessory

  • ac·ces·so·ri·ly, adverb
  • ac·ces·so·ri·ness, noun
  • in·ter·ac·ces·so·ry, adjective
  • non·ac·ces·so·ry, adjective, noun, plural non·ac·ces·so·ries.

Words Nearby accessory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use accessory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accessory

accessory

/ (əkˈsɛsərɪ) /


nounplural -ries
  1. a supplementary part or object, as of a car, appliance, etc

  2. (often plural) a small accompanying item of dress, esp of women's dress

  1. a person who incites someone to commit a crime or assists the perpetrator of a crime, either before or during its commission

adjective
  1. supplementary; additional; subordinate

  2. assisting in or having knowledge of an act, esp a crime

Origin of accessory

1
C17: from Late Latin accessōrius: see access

Derived forms of accessory

  • accessorial (ˌæksɛˈsɔːrɪəl), adjective
  • accessorily, adverb
  • accessoriness, noun

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