different between accessory vs access

English

Alternative forms

• (noun): accessary

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?s?s??i/, /æk?s?s??i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?s?s(?)?i/, /æk?s?s(?)?i/
• Homophone: accessary

Etymology 1

First attested in 1550s. From Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin access?rius, 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; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or being contributory. Said of people and things, and, when of people, usually in a bad sense

2. (law) Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself.
3. Present in a minor amount, and not essential.

Synonyms

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

Derived terms

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.
   • 1851, Thomas Carlyle, The Life of John Sterling

     the aspect and accessories of a den of banditti

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

• accessory before the fact
• accessory after the fact
• accessoryship
• Cambodian accessory

Descendants

• ? Hebrew: ????????????? (aksésori)
• ? Japanese: ?????? (akusesar?)
• ? Korean: ???? (aekseseori)

Translations

References

• accessory in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology 1

• First attested in the early 14th century.
• (entrance): First attested about 1380.
• From Middle English accesse, acces, from Middle French acces (“attack, onslaught”) or from its source Latin accessus, perfect passive participle of acc?d? (“approach; accede”), from ad (“to, toward, at”) + c?d? (“move, yield”). Doublet of accessus.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?æks?s/
• (General American) enPR: ?k?s?s', IPA^(key): /?æk?s?s/
• Hyphenation: ac?cess

Noun

access (countable and uncountable, plural accesses)

1. (uncountable) A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost

     All access was thronged.

2. (uncountable) The act of approaching or entering; an advance.
3. (uncountable) The right or ability of approaching or entering; admittance; admission; accessibility.
4. (uncountable) The quality of being easy to approach or enter.
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet Act 2 Scene 1

     I did repel his fetters, and denied His access to me. - Shakespeare, Hamlet, II-i
5. (uncountable) Admission to sexual intercourse.
   • 1760s, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England

     During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown.

6. (archaic, countable) An increase by addition; accession
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost

     I, from the influence of thy looks, receive access in every virtue.

7. (countable) An onset, attack, or fit of disease; an ague fit.

   • The first access looked like an apoplexy.

8. (countable) An outburst of an emotion; a paroxysm; a fit of passion
   • 1946, Arnold J. Toynbee, A Study of History (Abridgement of Volumes I-VI by D.C. Somervell)

     It appears that, about the middle of the fourth century of the Christian Era, the Germans in the Roman service started the new practice of retaining their native names; and this change of etiquette, which seems to have been abrupt, points to a sudden access of self-confidence and self-assurance in the souls of the barbarian personnel which had previously been content to 'go Roman' without reservations.

9. (uncountable, law) The right of a noncustodial parent to visit their child.
10. (uncountable, computing) The process of locating data in memory.
11. (uncountable, networking) Connection to or communication with a computer program or to the Internet.

Usage notes

• (outburst, paroxysm): sometimes confused with excess.

Derived terms

• access day
• direct access
• random access
• remote access

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 2

• First attested in 1962.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?æks?s/, /?k?s?s/
• (General American) enPR: ?k?s?s', ?k-s?s?, IPA^(key): /?æk?s?s/, /?k?s?s/
• Hyphenation: ac?cess

Verb

access (third-person singular simple present accesses, present participle accessing, simple past and past participle accessed)

1. (transitive) To gain or obtain access to.
2. (transitive, computing) To have access to (data).

   I can't access most of the data on the computer without a password.

Translations

References

• access in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• access in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• access at OneLook Dictionary Search
• access in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.