account

account · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
2. Proto-Italic*ad
3. Proto-Italic*ad-
4. Latinad-
5. Old Frencha-
6. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
7. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
8. Proto-Italic*kom
9. Proto-Italic*kom-
10. Latincon-
11. Latinputus
12. Latinputō
13. Latincomputō
14. Old Frenchconter
15. Old Frenchaconter
16. Anglo-Normanacunte
17. Middle Englishacounte
18. English todayaccount

From Middle English acounte, from Anglo-Norman acunte (“account”), from Old French aconte, from aconter (“to reckon”), from Latin computō (“to sum up”).

account · verb²

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
2. Proto-Italic*ad
3. Proto-Italic*ad-
4. Latinad-
5. Old Frencha-
6. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
7. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
8. Proto-Italic*kom
9. Proto-Italic*kom-
10. Latincon-
11. Latinputus
12. Latinputō
13. Latincomputō
14. Old Frenchconter
15. Old Frenchaconter
16. English todayaccount

From Old French acounter, accomptere et al., from a- + conter (“to count”)). Compare count.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from c. 1300 A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review.
• from c. 1610 A record of events; a relation or narrative.
• 14th–17th c. To present an account of; to answer for, to justify.
• from 14th c. To give an account of financial transactions, money received etc.
• from 14th c. To estimate, consider (something to be as described).
• from 14th c. To consider that.
• from 15th c. To give a satisfactory evaluation for financial transactions, money received etc.
• from 16th c. To give a satisfactory evaluation for (one's actions, behaviour etc.); to answer for.