different between accessory vs ancillary

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

From Latin ancill?ris (“ancillary; relating to maids”), from ancilla (“maid”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?æns??le?i?/
• Rhymes: -?l??i

Adjective

ancillary (comparative more ancillary, superlative most ancillary)

1. Subordinate; secondary; auxiliary

   Synonym: accessory

   • 1836, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature, Chapter 3:

     […] how easily he took all things along with him,—the persons, the opinions, and the day, and nature became ancillary to a man.

   • 1898, John Wesley Powell, Truth and Error, Chapter 7

     [E]very organ of the body, whatever function it may perform, must also perform the other four functions in an ancillary manner.

Translations

Noun

ancillary (plural ancillaries)

1. Something that serves an ancillary function, such as an easel for a painter.
2. (archaic) An auxiliary.

Translations

References

• ancillary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ancillary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• ancillary at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Carlylian, cranially