different between trimming vs accessory

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t??m??/

Noun

trimming (countable and uncountable, plural trimmings)

1. (uncountable) The act or process of someone who trims.

   Trimming hedges is easiest when the shears have recently been resharpened.

2. (countable) An instance of that act or process.

   I gave a good trimming to my elderly neighbour's hedges.

3. (countable) Material that is removed by someone trimming something, as a piece of steak.

   He gave the trimmings to the dog under the kitchen table.

4. (historical) An ornamental accessory to a dress or other piece of clothing.
   • 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, I.i.5:

     “You must know I commissioned a particular friend of mine, Miss Moffat, to buy me a trimming when she went to Paris […].”

5. An accessory or accompaniment.

   Christmas dinner with all the trimmings

6. (colloquial, dated) A reprimand or chastising.

   to give a boy a trimming

Verb

trimming

1. present participle of trim

   I am helping my elderly neighbour by trimming his hedge.

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.