Meanings
accessary1
plural accessaries · alternative accessory
- lawSomeone who accedes to some act, now especially a crime; one who contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense.
accessary2
comparative more accessary · superlative most accessary · alternative accessory
- lawAccompanying as a subordinate; additional; accessory; especially, uniting in, or contributing to, a crime, but not as chief actor. See accessory.
To both their deaths ſhalt thou be acceſſary.
c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], signature B2, verso
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveaiding and abetting in a crime
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
accessary · noun
- Medieval Latinaccessārius
- Middle Englishaccessarie
- Englishaccessary
From Middle English accessarie, axcessary, excercary, from Medieval Latin accessārius.
More words from Middle English, Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →accessary · adjective
- Medieval Latinaccessārius
- Medieval Latinaccessārius
- Englishaccessary
Borrowed from Medieval Latin accessārius.
More words from Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Estonian kaasosaline
- kaasosalineperson
Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
accessary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accessary
“accessary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accessary. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “accessary,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accessary.
Source: accessary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.