Etymograph

English

accessory

Accessory comes from Latin accessor ‘helper, subordinate’, and goes back to accessus.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaccessus
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaccessor‘helper, subordinate’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500accessōrius
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1641accessory

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaccessus
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaccessor‘helper, subordinate’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500accessōrius
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1641accessory

Earliest quotation: 1641, John Milton, The Second Book: “Amongst many secondary, and accessory causes that support Monarchy,…”

Linked words

through Latin accessus

inaccessible, 3 more

Another origin of accessory

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaccessus
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaccessor‘helper, subordinate’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500accessōrius
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500accessorie
  5. Englishtodayaccessory

Today it means

adj Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; contributing or being contributory.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin accessus / accessory

Shirt and support for this word