accessory before the fact

noun

One who commands or counsels an actionable offense, not being present at its commission.

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Meanings

nounaccessory before the fact (plural accessories before the fact)

plural accessories before the fact · alternative accessary before the fact

  1. lawOne who commands or counsels an actionable offense, not being present at its commission.

    'In a sort of way I suppose I am an accessory before the fact,' he remarked with some complacency. 'At least, I knew that they were up to some special brand of devilment from Moya's hints and general air of mystery and triumph. Began about last Friday.'

    1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries

Translations

Esperanto antaŭkomplico
  • antaŭkomplicoone who commands or counsels an offense
Finnish avunantaja ennen rikosta
  • avunantaja ennen rikostaone who commands or counsels an offense
Hungarian felbujtó, bűnsegéd
  • felbujtóone who commands or counsels an offense
  • bűnsegédone who commands or counsels an offense
Polish współwinny, współwinna
  • współwinnyone who commands or counsels an offense
  • współwinnaone who commands or counsels an offense
Spanish cómplice instigador, instigador
  • cómplice instigadorone who commands or counsels an offense
  • instigadorone who commands or counsels an offense
  • inductorone who commands or counsels an offense
Cite this entry
APA

accessory before the fact. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accessory%20before%20the%20fact

MLA

“accessory before the fact.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accessory%20before%20the%20fact. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “accessory before the fact,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accessory%20before%20the%20fact.

Source: accessory before the fact on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.