| 释义 |
accountn. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French account. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman acunt, acunte, acount, acounte, account, accompt, Anglo-Norman and Old French acont, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French aconte, Anglo-Norman and Middle French acompte, accompte financial statement or record, rendering of accounts (12th cent.), calculation, reckoning, claim, mention, reason, narrative, (in law) action of account, plea in an action (all 13th cent.), worth, importance (16th cent. or earlier), probably < a- a- prefix5 + conte , cunte count n.1 Compare account v.With senses at branch IV. compare account v. III. In Middle English, instances of this word can be difficult to distinguish from those of a count (i.e. count n.1 with the indefinite article). The β. forms reflect Anglo-Norman and Middle French accompt , acompte , accompte , etc.: for the development of forms of this type and their history in French see discussion at count v. The spelling accompt at β. forms persisted into the early 19th cent., primarily in technical use in banking and law. On the Anglo-Norman, Middle French, and Middle English forms in acc- compare discussion at ac- prefix. Compare also similar forms at account v. The word apparently became obsolete in French by the end of the 16th cent. French acompte part payment of a debt, instalment (1740) appears to be an independent later formation. I. Senses relating to counting, enumerating, or calculating numerically. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [noun] > action of calculating or counting c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) l. 82 in C. Horstmann (1887) 347 (MED) Eiȝte hundret ȝer and Nyntene bi a-countes riȝte. c1390 in C. Brown (1924) 145 (MED) Her-of and we wolde take good hede And in vr hertes a-countes cast..Toward vr ende we draweþ ful fast. a1450 (c1435) J. Lydgate Life SS. Edmund & Fremund (Harl.) l. 851 in C. Horstmann (1881) 2nd Ser. 392 (MED) By accomptes cleer..Eihte hundryd wyntir. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 339 (MED) Bede, folowenge the trawthe and the trewe acompte of men of Hebrewe, provethe vij yere to faile from the nowmbre rehersede. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 214 (MED) By..this accompte [sc. a list of officials] thou maiste be y-lyghted of costagis. 1570 H. Billingsley in tr. Euclid v. Introd. f. 125v Arithmetique, the arte of accomptes and reckoning. 1597 T. Morley 86 It is twentie miles by account from London to Ware. 1611 Ecclus. vii. 27 Counting one by one to finde out the account . View more context for this quotation a1613 E. Brerewood (1614) xiii. 115 Fiue miles of descent in perpendicular account. 1669 G. Miege 113 Which according to the Moscovite accompt was the third hour of the day. 1711 J. Addison No. 25. ¶2 As for the remaining Parts of the Pound, I keep no account of them. 1742 A. Pope (Tauchn. 1848) 286 This day Tom's fair account has run..to eighty one. 1801 ‘Gabrielli’ II. 48 My tutor offered to pitch me against the clerk for reading, and against a neighbouring farmer's son for casting accounts. 1871 C. Davies iii. 204 The weights for account are different from the weights for trade. 1926 Suppl. I. 776/2 This competition of the gold mark as a money of account was the final undoing of the paper mark. 1997 12 Apr. 85/3 The object..may have been used in..urinoscopy, casting accounts or indeed anything. II. Senses relating to accounting for money paid and received. 2. a. A financial record or statement; accounting. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > an account or reckoning c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 222 in C. Horstmann (1887) 113 (MED) Þis child..Seruede A borgeys of þe toun and his a-countes wrot. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 87 He nolde þt no man sholde hym lette Of his acountes..And thus he sit til it was passed pryme. 1440 in A. H. Thompson (1927) III. 359 A fulle and a playne accompte of alle the revenues of your place, and how thai are dispendede. 1523 J. Fitzherbert xvii. f. 30 The..accomptes of euery baylye or reue and other accomptance. 1597 W. Shakespeare i. i. 130 My soueraigne liege was in my debt, Vpon remainder of a deare account . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. ii. 130 At many times I brought in my accompts, Laid them before you. View more context for this quotation 1652 R. Brome i. sig. B3v The ballance of the several Accompts, Which shews you what remains in Cash. 1719 W. Wood (ed. 2) 88 The Commissioners of the Publick Accompts. 1732 c. 30 §4 That every such Bankrupt..shall be..required..to deliver up..all his..Bookes of Accounts..not seized by the Messenger of the said Commission. 1781 S. Johnson Fenton in VI. 11 The lady..detained him with her as the auditor of her accounts. 1841 T. B. Macaulay Warren Hastings in Oct. 164 After two years passed in keeping accounts in Calcutta, Hastings was sent up the country. 1882 Mar. 772/2 This side of the account we call the ‘liabilities’, because the bank as an institution is liable to its stockholders, to its customers, and to the Government for this amount. 1924 H. R. J. Holmes 19 Cost Book-keeping begins essentially with an allocation of horses and manual labour to the separate departments for which a closing or working account is kept. 1997 28 Feb. 13/4 There shall be a consolidated set of summary accounts that reflect the affairs of the whole parish and each of its outposts, prepared at least annually and submitted to audit. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > [noun] 1692 (single sheet) Printed for the Author T.M. at John's Coffee-House in Birchin-Lane; who Teaches Merchants-Accompts after a Plaine and Easie Method.] 1715 306 What a good use he made of his studying and practising of Accompts, may be seen by this Just Vindication of the Conduct of his Friends the old Ministers. a1790 B. Franklin (1981) i. 52 I attended the Business diligently, studied Accounts, and grew..expert at selling. 1879 C. L. Clapp 479 No one perhaps in Greene County bears a better reputation than Mr. Evans, as a bookkeeper or expert in accounts. 1899 155 Further, the business-man should be trained in accounts as a science. 1971 R. G. Wilson ix. 209 Seldom were these institutions patronised by the merchants' sons for anything more than an occasional special course in accounts or a language. 2008 N. Harper 42 While I know that you did study accounts,..I really need someone who is an expert in double-entry bookkeeping. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > [noun] > keeper of accounts > office or department of 1958 7 Feb. 6/7 They have arranged that Prudence pay the check, since she works in Accounts Receivable.] 1960 L. F. Urwick 2 (Chart) Accounts. 1963 ‘J. le Carré’ xxiii. 197 We got Elsie in Accounts to help with the gossip. 1986 12 Jan. (Colour Suppl.) 34/4 On Mondays,..the books are ‘tapped off’, or checked over with one of the girls from accounts. 1997 T. Mackintosh-Smith (1999) vi. 149 British policy towards Aden..was to be steered to the last by the men in Accounts. b. A financial arrangement for the management of funds, etc. society > trade and finance > financial dealings > banking > [noun] > bank-account 1615 E. Grimeston tr. P. d'Avity 120 The king of Spaine is made debtor of many millions to the banke of Genoa, whereof the Genuois keepe an account [Fr. tiennent compte] (yet likely neuer to be paid). 1650 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi i. 44 Two boxes full of Gold..were taken and dispositated upon account in the Kings bank. a1722 J. Toland (1726) I. 458 This Bank..is a general Cash-keeper..: every one paying ten Guilders at the opening of his account, and afterwards a Penny for each party or parcel that he draws out. 1768 A. Tucker (1852) I. 621 If I have an account with the Bank of England..[and] if I have no checked paper along with me, I cannot draw for a single sixpence. 1853 W. M. Thackeray (1854) I. v. 42 I used..to maintain a balance of two or three guineas untouched at the bank, so that my account might still remain open. 1944 W. S. Maugham iv. 123 We know the manager of the bank in Chicago where Larry has his account. 1999 J. Arnott ii. 54 As soon as you are in a position to do so, I would like the sum of £250 paid into my account at Chase National Bank on a Banker's Order each month. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > of credit or debit between parties > credit arrangement with firm, shop, etc. 1793 in J. Cleland (1820) 175 If the Master run an account with a tradesman, and be irregular in his dealings..he is answerable for all that the servant orders. 1860 M. C. Harris 111 Dorothy has got her account with the grocer in a great snarl. 1931 C. L. Bolling xiii. 275 Precautions must be taken..to see that the name and address..and particulars..are correctly recorded, as a basis for the charge to her [sc. the customer's] account. 1971 A. Shaffer i. 23 Cancelling the account at Harrods. 2005 18 May (Property section) 2/2 His guys want readies and he is too small to have an account with the local builders' merchants. society > trade and finance > buying > buyer > [noun] > customer or client > types of customer 1929 May 4/2 Robert..had also engaged in a professional career—advertising... At first he obtained a few small accounts. 1937 8 Mar. 83/1 Adding to the impressive list of Erickson accounts such majors as the Standard Oil group, California Packing, Zonite, Beech-Nut. 1962 H. O. Beecheno x. 90 Advertising agencies refer to each of their clients as an ‘account’. 1985 8 Feb. 17/4 Collins have a vacancy for a Representative to sell their Bibles and Liturgical publications to established accounts in the North of England. 2008 P. Breton i. 4 Strategic accounts, clients representing large budgets or the potential of such, used to be managed according to a yearly strategic plan. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > stock exchange accounting period 1811 1 June 473 He replied that he did not wish to purchase for money, but for the account, by which time he should be in cash to pay for it. 1820 22 May 3/2 The present account in Consols closes on Friday next. For the July account a continuation of ½ per cent. may be obtained. 1880 Apr. 30 A large amount of business was done for the new account. 1928 19 Nov. A contract setting out that these 50 shares have been sold for the account November 22—next Thursday, that is—and bought for the following account day, December 6. 1973 W. A. Thomas viii. 170 Most nineteenth century dealings were conducted for the account, while speculation within the account undoubtedly exercised a stabilizing influence on prices. 1994 24 Aug. 23/2 Few novices knew about new-time dealing which permitted purchases in one Stock Exchange account to be rolled over into the next. 1971 E. W. Meyer (Network Working Group) (Electronic text) No. 82 7 Each site is registered. Any person who gets in on a site's account has its access. 1989 C. Stoll xxxviii. 195 When the hacker logged into his stolen account..the..computer appeared to accept it, but then barfed back an error message. 1997 M. Fabi xiii. 354 If we could crack Macrobyte's password encryption algorithm, we'd have every password in the system, including any and all superuser accounts. 1999 Oct. 81/1 Consult the company attorney before attempting to break into your office manager's Hotmail account. 2009 (Nexis) 9 July a12 Someone told me once that as a writer it was imperative that I keep up with the latest in social networking. So I have a Facebook account. 1527 (new ed.) f. iv In the presence of the barons or audytours which they wyl assyne the account shalbe rehersyd. 1543 R. Record 131v Now for the accompt of auditors take this example. 1552 R. Hutchinson (1842) 225 Masters of colleges do call their stewards and bowsers to an account and audit. 1622 F. Markham v. vi. 2 Many Subtreasurers..skilfull in Audit and matter of account. 1676 M. Hale 109 There will be an account required, how the redundant overplus was employed; how much in Charity, how much in other good works. 1781 E. Gibbon II. 55 The actual account employed several hundred persons. 1827 H. Hallam II. xi. 241 Hence the bill appointing commissioners of public account. 1867 Dec. 695/1 The work begun by him was..carried forward with vigour by his successors,..by whom great progress was made towards a sound system of public account. 1908 H. Atton & H. H. Holland I. viii. 320 The first-fruits of the labours of the Commission of Public Account..must have caused temporary discomposure in certain official circles. 1955 D. Knowles II. ii. xxv. 3090 The resolute attempt..to secure a strict and regular system of account and audit. 2001 M. S. Schaeffer i. i. 8 Use a scoring system to determine which method of account to use for each sale: letters of credit, open account, documentary collections, and so on. the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] > advantage, profit, or use 1611 Phil. iv. 17 I desire fruit that may abound to your account . View more context for this quotation 1675 G. R. tr. A. Le Grand 227 Sometimes troubles turn us to account. 1729 J. Swift 6 They will not yield above three Pounds..which cannot turn to Account either to the Parents or the Kingdom. 1832 H. Martineau iv. 52 A kind, too, which cannot be turned to any other account. 1863 C. C. Clarke ii. 286 To make the best account of everything they encounter. 1878 R. B. Smith 329 But the inactivity which was forced upon him..he turned to good account. 1964 R. D. Abrahams ii. v. 178 These tales of protest frequently revolve about a generic character called ‘Colored Man’, who is discomfited and humiliated by White Man, but whose very arrogance he can sometimes turn to account. 2004 J. Playfair (2007) ii. 32 Diphtheria and tetanus toxins were turned to good account when it was discovered that they could be inactivated by formalin but still retain the ability to induce immunity. III. A statement of money held, etc., and related senses. 5. A statement accounting for the administration of money held in trust or required by a creditor. Frequently with bring to, give, yield, etc.c1300 St. Bridget (Laud) l. 10 in C. Horstmann (1887) 192 (MED) Heo scholde..At a certeyn dai þarof trewe a-countes ȝelde. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. vi. xvii. 315 A good seruaunt is wiis and ware and curious to ȝeue acountis and rekenynge. c1425 Treat. Ten Commandments in (1910) 6 22 (MED) Than at þe laste ende comith in wrath &..rekunneth þer acunthes, for þat he is tresureer of þat howsoolde. 1434 in H. Nicolas (1835) IV. 264 (MED) He is now called to accountes in our seid eschequier, and rigorous processe maad ayens hym. 1461 C. Paston in (2004) I. 198 I xall ȝeue ȝow acowmptys þere-of. 1574 T. Tymme tr. J. de Serres v. 170 They forbid such to be of the Kyngs Counsaile..vntill such time as they haue made their accompts. a1601 W. Lambarde (1635) 36 He talketh of Accompts to be made to the King there. 1611 Dan. vi. 2 That the Princes might giue accompts vnto them, and the King should haue no damage. View more context for this quotation 1644 R. Boothby sig. av In stead of formall fair accounts, they kept their reckonings in loose papers in their pockets. 1704 in (1852) II. 128 And return accompts thereof. 1762 O. Goldsmith 14 To giue in his accompts to the masters of the temple. 1833 i. Hist. Europe 264/1 In 1828 the Treasury had been required by the finance committee to give in accounts..of the sums paid under the head of the Russian loan. 1866 15 Additional explanations..were prepared as soon as practicable and delivered, together with the returned accounts, to Colonel Austine. 1929 H. Froidevaux in H. H. Dodwell IV. iii. 64 The General Chamber..was..to prepare accounts every six months. 1991 13 July 14/2 One demur in a bank's published accounts can doom the institution by prompting a run on its deposits. a1400 Twelve Profits of Tribulation (Royal) in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 55 (MED) Þo kingis stiward, when he ȝeldes acounte of þo receyt of his lord, he acountes & castis with penyes of leed or of coper. 1472–3 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 1st Roll §59. m. 4 It is enacte..that the same maire, feliship and merchauntes, and their successours, aunswere and yeld accompte to the kyng at his eschequer, of all sommes of money comyng or growyng of the said custumes and subsidies. 1513 Ld. Dacre in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 97 Alwey I shall be redy to gif accompt of the same at your pleasure. 1535 Luke xvi. 2 Geue accompte of thy stewardshipe. 1603 in C. M. Ingleby & L. T. Smith (1879) 103 The Accompte of the right honourable the Lord Stanhope of Harrington for all such somes of money as have beine receaved and paied. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iii. 76 in tr. Procopius Calling the Italians to accompt, who never toucht the Emperour monies. 1738 ii. 18 The Sheriff was upon his Account, and shewed the Book of the Clerk of the Pells in his Discharge. 1773 L. Carter 9 Sept. (1965) II. 767 Seeing no Peccavi I asked for the account of my last year's corn and tobacco. 1837 19 Dec. 279/1 It might be required of the postmaster general..to render an account at the next session of the amount expended for each purpose specified in his estimates. a1865 E. C. Gaskell (1866) I. xvii. 193 The money for which he will give no account. 1932 H. V. Lovett in H. H. Dodwell VI. xx. 363 The functions of the department were to bring to account and audit the expenditure of all branches of the civil administration. 1994 L. Polizzotto vii. 354 Clement VII himself..[was] cited to appear before the syndics to give an account of the money which the Pope had drawn from Florence in order to finance his activities. 6. A statement as to the discharge of responsibilities generally; an answering for conduct. Chiefly with †ask, bring to, give. to call to account: see call v. Phrases 3b.c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 583 in C. Horstmann (1887) 18 (MED) Þo euerech [devil] hadde i-ȝolde a-countes of schreu-hede huy hadden ido..Þilke maister..made him so hardi..at oure acounte to beo. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 92 Ȝe sulle we ȝiue acuntis Of al þat we habbiþ ibe here. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. vi. xvi. 313 Þat he schal ȝeue to his lord acountes of his outrage. a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate (Arun.) (1911) l. 3677 (MED) To the goddys..Thow shalt accountys and a reknyng make. a1500 Pennyworth of Wit (Cambr.) l. 248 in (1884) 7 124 I wyll neuyr aske yow acowntys. 1526 Matt. xii. f. xvjv They shall geve a countes at the daye off iudgement. 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus 6 Unto whom we must geue an accomptes of our lyfe. 1549 T. Solme in H. Latimer To Rdr. sig. Aiiiiv Before whom thou shalt appere one day, to rendre a strayght accomptes, for the dedes done in thy flesh. 1564 T. Becon Pref. sig. Ciiiv We shall render an accomptes for the lyues of them all. society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > [noun] > fact of being responsible, answerable, or liable a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 2243 (MED) Whan god schal his accompte hiere. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) §304 He shal yelde acounte of it at the day of dome. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 59 (MED) God will axse hem acompte at the dredfull day. a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk (Gough) (1905) 96 (MED) A man schall ȝeue acownte þerof yn þe day of dome. 1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin 116/1 Will not God aske vs an accompt? 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 333 Claudio shal render me a deere account . View more context for this quotation 1654 E. Johnson 183 Being questioned how he came by it, could give no good accompt. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet (1724) I. 306 To bring them [sc. the Bankers] to an account for their usury and extortions. 1729 W. Law ii. 21 Whether we shall be call'd to account at the last day. 1773 R. Graves I. iii. v. 139 Miss Townsend dropped a tear; then, pulling up her spirits, gave the following account of herself. 1823 W. Scott I. xiii. 289 Obliged to bring somebody or other to account for the general credit of the Well. 1876 E. A. Freeman III. xii. 89 Theobald of Chartres was also called to account. 1920 Mar. 63/2 Tinker, the leader, could be brought to account if he failed to do his duty or disobeyed commands. 1963 E. C. Black iv. 144 When Sir Lawrence Dundas took his seat in parliament.., John Wilkes called him to account. 1990 M. Staley in A. Parfrey (rev. ed.) 184 I have also seen a reference to Parsons being called to account, at a special Lodge meeting, over certain things with which his colleagues were unhappy. society > faith > aspects of faith > Bible, Scripture > biblical events > Second Coming > [noun] > apocalypse a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) l. 10885 (MED) At þe last acounte shal he mysfalle. 1604 H. Petowe sig. D4 Teares that all teares of Passion shall surmount, Till Londons Sinne giue vp her last account. 1635 T. Heywood vi. 345 For when the Soule the Body doth forsake, It turnes not into Aire, as there to make It's last account. a1695 J. Kettlewell (1696) iv. 114 Let them by no means take off their Eye from what their Conscience tells them, is a matter of their final Account. 1713 N. Rowe i. i My Brother..Is gone to his Account, For this, his Minion, The Revel-rout is done. 1743 J. Morris ii. 52 In this awful account they, who are set on the left hand, are supposed to believe in Christ. 1798 H. Brand Adelinda v. i, in 358 Do not drag me, thus unprepared, to my last account,—Now show your great love for me; spare my life. 1847 F. Marryat II. vi. 142 He has gone to his account. God forgive him. 1899 ‘A. Hope’ xix. 253 I had but to raise my revolver, and I sent him to his account with his sins on his head. 1927 J. Buchan iv. 71 This Judas had not yet gone to his account,..and now he had crowned his misdeeds by leading savages against his own kindly Scots. society > law > administration of justice > process, writ, warrant, or order > [noun] > writ > other types of writ 1622 G. de Malynes 468 The trial of an Action of Account at the common-law is tedious. 1696 S. Carter v. 51 It was held to be a good Custom, as a Rent granted to one and his Heirs to cease during the non-Age of every Heir; and admitting the Custom were void, yet an Action of Account lyes not. 1732 55 If a Feme Sole Obligee marries, and the Husband makes a Letter of Attorney to A.B. to receive the Money, who receives it, and after the Feme dies, the Baron shall have an Action of Account for the Money. 1789 ii. 75 That any executor being a residuary legatee, may bring his action of account against his co-executor or executors of the estate of the testator in their hands. 1809 T. E. Tomlins (at cited word) One merchant may have accompt against another where they occupy their trade together..Account does not lie against an infant, but it lies against a man or woman that is guardian, bailiff, or receiver, being of age and dis-covert. 1866 18 286/2 There is no prayer in the petition for any account against my client. 1937 N. Denholm-Young iv. 156 (note) The majority of defendants in actions of account were bailiffs over one or more manors. 2006 J. Oldham 234 Devlin discusses the arbitration features of the Common Law Procedure Act of 1854 and subsequent reform legislation, mainly as they related to actions of account. IV. Estimation, consideration. the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > [noun] a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 1715 (MED) He his fader in desdeign Hath take and set of non acompte. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 4735 (MED) I sette it at nomore acompte Than wolde a bare straw amonte. 1587 A. Fleming et al. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1375/1 To view Sussex and the hauens, and as he thought, to tast the best of account there. a1592 R. Greene (1599) v. sig. H1v Rich Pactolus that riuer of account. 1601 B. Jonson i. i. sig. B A scholler..Of deare account, in all our Academies. View more context for this quotation 1680 W. Allen (ed. 2) 11 To appear considerable in the account of others. 1710 C. Johnson iv. 32 When first I heard those Words, I held my Life Of no Account, not worth the least Defence. 1766 J. Fordyce I. iii. 95 Are all these of no account? 1834 Nov. 466/1 The people were of no account in those days; and if they were at all thought of, their interests were supposed to be sufficiently represented by the barons. 1876 E. A. Freeman (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 222 The town of Huntingdon was, then as now, one of much less account than Cambridge. 1902 Oct. 513 Louis IV., Prince of Condé, was of little account, and the remaining pedigrees contain Hesse, Rheinfels, Soubises and Orleans without bringing in intellectual distinction. 1920 J. Sargeaunt 46 The kind [of spelt] called ‘rutilum’ had..a reddish grain, and was held in less account. 1992 B. Unsworth xxvii. 264 Anyone that has not these marks they look on as of no account. the mind > will > decision > resolve or decide [verb (intransitive)] the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (intransitive)] > reckon on the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > [noun] the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > [noun] 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin xix. 110 Wee haue made our Account to rest simply vppon his Word. 1586 G. Whitney i. 8 And make accompte that honor, to be theires. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xli. xix. 1108 h Making full account [haud dubie], that the next day the enemies would yield. 1642 J. Howell vii. 86 Make accoump for matter of fertility of soyle. 1662 H. More (ed. 2) Pref. Gen. p. v I make account I began then to adorn my Function. 1697 S. Patrick (i. 17) 13 They made account the things of God were to be preferred before those of Men. 1703 W. Burkitt Mark vi. 34 No Pastors in the Sight of God, and in the Account of Christ. 1785 W. Cowper iv. 356 Oh happy! and in my account, denied That sensibility of pain. 1834 30 Aug. 44 The wise ones in the world's judgment, but the fools in God's account. 1869 J. Keble vi. 51 By this you see, what a solemn thing it is in the account of our holy Mother the church, whenever an infant is baptized, and how much we ought to think of it. 1919 K. L. Brooks 49 There is nothing in the distinction of food that will make any distinction between men in God's account. V. Narration, relation. 11. the mind > language > speech > narration > [noun] > a narrative or account society > communication > information > reporting > [noun] > a report 1561 (title) A briefe cronicle contaynyng the accoumpte of the raygnes of all kynges in this realme, from the entring of Brutus, to this presente yeare with all the most notable actes done by eche of theym. ?1591 G. B. sig. B3v God..hath promised to shorten those dayes; and we knowe by all accompts that they are both likely to bee shortened, and drawe to an ende. 1614 W. Raleigh i. iii. i. §4. 7 To this accompt agreeing with the Scriptures..I haue sometimes subscribed. 1660 J. Sadler sig. D 3v However, it may be Hereabout, by all Accounts: yet so, that the first Day of Tabernacles, must begin (as all other) with 12 hours of Night before Day. 1694 (title) Brief account of the intended Bank of England. 1716 R. Steele in J. Addison Pref. sig. A3 Having recommended this Play..I feel myself oblig'd to give some Account of it. 1792 J. Almon (octavo ed.) I. ii. 29 A dark, confused, and scarcely intelligible accompt. a1817 J. Austen Watsons in (1954) VI. 342 Begin, and give me an account of everything as it happened. 1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in 10 Mar. 464/1 When he heard of talent, trusted nobody's account of it. 1913 E. Pound in Oct. 435 Riquier is most amusing in his account of the inn-mistress at Sant Pos de Tomeiras. 1953 V. Nabokov Let. 2 May in (1989) 137 I wonder if your account of your trip will make me Europe-sick, or at least France-sick. 2009 P. Glennie & N. Thrift ii. 56 Our contention..is that Martin's omission of the clock from his account of church and parish life provides a specific instance of the ‘taken-for-grantedness’ of timekeeping. society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > expression > [noun] > specific types 1961 20 Feb. 6/1 His account of the first movement of Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata seemed wayward and at times almost Schumannesque in its fluctuations of tempo. 1969 31 July 161/2 These performances are backed by another gramophone ‘classic’: Lisa Della Casa's account of Strauss's Four Last Songs. 1983 Nov. 21/4 Roger Norrington conducted a fizzing account of Offenbach's score. 2004 Mar. 30/2 Viennese pianist Fellner's account of the opening Prelude In C Major is, accordingly, songful and mellifluous. Phrases P1. Prepositional phrases. 1587 F. Thynne Ann. Scotl. 426/2 in (new ed.) II Dauid Steward..[was] made duke of Rothseie, when he was about eighteene yeares of age, or rather twentie, as by all accounts it must be. 1655 A. Evans 26 First, I answer, That in 1653. by all accounts the Foundation was laid. 1672 J. Phillips v. 98 In Pages Trouzes up he mounts, A Carriers horse, by all accounts. 1726 Abstr. Life Mary Stuart in E. Simmonds tr. Mary Queen of Scots 40 By all Accounts, as well as the foregoing Letters, she had about this Time, entertain'd that fatal Passion for the Earl of Bothwell. 1746 8 35/2 The loss of the regular troops, by the best computation, does not exceed 200; and by all accounts, the rebels have at least lost double that number. 1798 E. Inchbald ii. i. 19 By all accounts the Baroness was very haughty. 1825 J. Neal I. i. 10 [She was] the prettiest one, though, ‘by all accounts’. 1887 A. Jessopp 236 Camp-ball..used to be a very favourite game in my parish some fifty years ago, and it was, by all accounts, a very rough one—something like football. 1935 R. A. Knox iii. 94 His sister Maud, though by all accounts she was a great hand at interfering in other people's business, had little notion of looking after her own. 1966 A. Higgins xvi. 125 She toured Ireland with a repertory company, a very mean affair by all accounts. 2008 R. Hill (2009) ii. x. 306 Seems she were a bit of a goer, by all accounts—bit long in the tooth. 1569 J. Peele Dialogue Scholemaster & Scholler in sig. Diiiv The thirde is thaccompte of tyme for byinge, and is goodes boughte for his accounte heare in London. 1589 J. B. 30 Broade clothes 10. peeces..for the account of my master Alderman Aldworth. 1694 in (1706) II. 511 999197 l. East-India Stock..which I promise to be accountable for Account of the East-India Company. 1721 No. 24. 274 What was transacted in Stock, or Stocks,..for Account of the Company. 1826 T. Tooke 102 A very considerable proportion are shipped for account of the manufacturers. 1882 4 May A large portion of the gold recently advised as having been shipped from Australia has been landed at Galle for Indian account. 1943 10 July 73/2 Wholesale distributors, buying for account of approved laboratories, must certify that they have not in inventory the items being sought. 1967 R. Cassady 289 Products..are auctioned once more as soon as possible for account of the buyer mentioned in the same paragraph. 2001 C. R. Schenk ii. 34 The New York branch's Tianjin account held US dollars for account of the Bank of China. 1594 W. Burton (new ed.) sig. C The sonnes of Princes are in great accompt with men, but the children of God are in accompt with God and man. 1690 J. Locke iii. x. 241 A Man, in his Accompts with another. 1795 T. Cooper (ed. 2) 120 I found that White, in account with his men, charges them for beef, 2½d. per lb. (exactly three-halfpence English). 1897 B. E. S. Brodhurst iv. 64 (heading) Jones, Esq., in account with White & Co. 21, Throgmorton Gardens, London. 1908 J. King 44 The heading of the pass-book on the first two pages is now usually ‘Bank in Account with’, and then the receipts are on the left and payments out on the right. 1959 P. Mathias i. ii. 29 There were..the Malt and Hop books, where the trade was great and the maltsters in account with the brewery very numerous. 2008 H. Lunt 286 J Cross in account with Nala Merchandising Company—Statement of account. d. on account (also † upon account). c1509 Accts. Executors Thomas Savage in J. Raine (1869) IV. 309 A bill subscribed wt the hand of the Prior of Hexham for the delyverye of shepe, the nowmbre of Mlvijcxij, upon accompt. 1567 Instr. 20 Dec. in C. S. Knighton (1999) 34 Matthew Sturdyvan, stuard of household for the college, shall from tyme to tyme receyve money upon accompt for provision of victualles. 1600 in (1886) 56 Warraunt..to pay to Phip. Grove vppon accompte the some of thirtie poundes. 1698 N. Luttrell Diary in (1857) IV. 333 The summ of £250,000 be allowed upon account towards defraying the charge of disbanding the private troopers. 1811 J. Farey I. 366 It is not customary for the Owners to advance any of the Cope Money on account. 1891 R. Kipling iii. 35 The Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done. 1923 H. A. Gibbons xxvi. 531 The German Cabinet was firm in its refusal to pay down 12,000,000,000 gold marks on account before May 1. 1996 Summer 7/1 They get part of their fees on account. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > on account of which or wherefore 1817 M. Edgeworth Rose, Thistle, & Shamrock i. i, in 262 If so be, Sir, you thought well of it, on account you like these Scotch, I'd better to step down and see how the men be as to being comfortable. 1922 B. Hecht 260 They pick me out for the death watch on account I have a way with doomed men. 1936 E. Waugh 44 The purser who's different on account he leads a very cynical life. 1948 E. Waugh 52 Take your three days off, Mr. Barlow, only don't expect to be paid for them on account you're thinking up some fancy ideas. 1974 8 July 58 He tells me he is sad on account none of his..contacts has got in touch with him. 2004 4 Oct. 96/1 The priests said give her work on account she was a charity. (c) on (also †upon) account of. Also † on (also upon) the account of, on (also †upon) (this, etc.) account on this account upon this account; similarly in plural constructions. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > because of or by reason of 1625 S. Purchas II. x. ix. 1793 If they met with any of Decannee, Dabul, Chaul,..to arrest them vpon account of iust pretences for goods robbed and spoiled &c. 1647 J. Saltmarsh 132 Upon this account those offices have been thought ordinary, which were upon the meer and pure account of the holy Ghost. 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden 82 The Customs out of this Sea were very great, onely upon the accompt of Fishing. 1694 R. L'Estrange (ed. 6) No. 444. 481 She'll never Trouble herself farther upon any Accompt of mine. 1726 J. Swift II. iii. iv. 48 I was far their inferior, and upon that account very little regarded. 1759 W. Robertson I. vi. 400 On many accounts she did not think it prudent. 1792 E. Burke 8 Jan. (1844) III. 367 It is a matter on which I am doubly anxious,—on its own account, and on account of your concern in it. 1832 H. Martineau i. 10 He keeps at home now, on account of his great age. 1860 28 July 374 We are..not aristocratic, perhaps, but decidedly rich, and on that account rather high and stand-off-ish. 1910 19 2 It was partly on this account, as well as on account of his sympathy for the poor plant cutters, that he was subjected to much persecution. 1959 A. C. Hardy II. ix. 177 Lampreys are sometimes called slime-eels on account of the enormous quantities of mucus they produce from glands in the skin. 2006 July 87/1 We should celebrate two-legged carrots and corkscrew runner beans, which are wonderful to eat but usually rejected on account of their looks. the world > relative properties > relationship > [adverb] > in relation or with reference to or concerning 1653 R. Austen 5 Men are generally mistaken upon this Accompt. 1679 W. Penn ii. sig. Q2 He hath said so much on this Account, that there is little need I should say any more. 1743 N. Appleton 34 Should he be never so poor and low upon outward Accounts. 1749 H. Fielding V. xiii. iv. 30 I am satisfied on the Account of my Cousin. View more context for this quotation 1973 32 119 She is empirically wrong on both accounts; there was humor in biblical society and there is wit in modern Israel. 2003 R. I. Garrett & R. Farrant xxiv. 173 She was wrong on several accounts. 1655 H. Vane xx. 348 In order to make this witness of theirs to stand and take place against all opposition from the true light; when he has cried down the living word of god into a meere equality on all accounts with the creature. 1726 J. Swift II. iv. ii. 25 As to those filthy Yahoos..I confess I never saw any sensitive Being so detestable on all accounts. 1763 (1764) 1 221 One sort of ashes, which are on all accounts valuable; I mean peat or turf-ashes. 1850 E. E. Stuart Let. 14 Nov. in R. Stuart et al. (1961) I. 158 To me, the Major would be preferable—on every account. 1858 L. A. A. de Verteuil 445 The mangrove-cascabel, or dormilon..has the greatest resemblance to the true cascabel, but, on all accounts, is not poisonous. 1899 I. H. Harper I. ii. 25 I think another one can not be named so agreeable on all accounts as is Deborah Moulson's at Hamilton. 1912 27 119 The King would lament on every account the necessity of giving any interruption to that state of external tranquillity. 1995 (Nexis) 29 Mar. While the two leaders' talks were friendly and generally positive, on all accounts, the issues of ship visits and the wider one of nuclear-powered or armed warships have been left hanging. 2008 Sept. 38/1 On every account, post-1980 presidents have ‘done God’ considerably more than their predecessors. f. 1560 Philemon 18 If he hathe hurt thee, or oweth thee oght, that put on mine accountes. 1678 S. Butler iii. ii. 160 Resolution Charg'd on th' Accompt of Persecution. a1687 W. Petty (1691) x. 114 All Commodities, bought and sold upon the accompt of that Universal Trade. 1845 J. R. McCulloch iii. i. 408 Going into the money-market and borrowing 1000l. on his account. 1898 G. W. Schwartz 114 Write to the Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange,..requesting them to consign to you 500 Pineapples to be sold on their account and risk. 1990 Sept. 62/1 Anyone with a cordless phone could park outside your house and make long-distance phone calls on your account. the world > relative properties > relationship > non-relation > [adverb] > independently > independently of the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > individual [phrase] > in his, its, etc., self > for one's own part 1609 T. Bodley 1st Draft Statutes in (1913) 37 The same may be produced..vpon the Vice-chancellours owne accounte. 1653 T. Fuller x. 96 Whereas when grown a man he sets up for himself, and takes up a new stock, on his own account. 1730 46 No Attempts that I know of were ever made in any of our Sugar-Colonies to hinder the Field-Slaves from Labouring on their own Account on the Lord's Day. 1772 J. Johnson 4 Nov. (1979) 53 You might venture to send 100 hhds tobacco on our own account. 1801 J. Austen 14 Jan. (1995) 72 She..desired me to ask you to purchase for her two bottles of..Lavender Water..provided you should go to the Shop on your own account. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. iii. xiii. 211 [She] was sometimes austere and brusque enough on her own account, and in such business as might especially be transacted between herself and the cottagers. 1879 J. Grant in IV. 62/2 He started in business on his own account. 1934 3 Mar. 15/8 New York Stock Exchange ‘specialists’ today objected emphatically to provisions of the pending securities market control bill which would require them to abandon the practice of trading on their own account. 1994 J. Burnett iii. 104 The skilled man who could not find alternative work at his usual level had to..set up on his own account as a ‘chamber-master’. 1720 D. Defoe 221 The ships which lay by to the eastward were English, and..they were going upon the account, which by the Way, was a Sea Term for a Pyrate. 1735 I. 55 Some of the rest had form'd of seizing the Vessel, putting those to Death who refus'd to come into the Measures, and then to go, as the Sailors phrase it, upon the Account, that is in plain English, commence Pyrates. 1822 W. Scott II. ii. 30 Their ships, I suppose, were clumsy enough; but if it is true that they went upon the account as far as the Levant, I scarce believe that ever better fellows unloosed a top-sail. 1929 2 658 One reads here first-hand accounts of adventure with the gentlemen who sailed ‘on the account’. 2004 M. Rediker ii. 37 He did not know..that the next ten years would be a ‘golden age’ of piracy. He did not know that thousands of people would go ‘upon the account’. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [adverb] > in no circumstances 1654 J. Owen xiii. 316 Jewell, Abbot, Morton, Vsher, Hall, Davenant, and Prideaux,..(with whom on no account whatever the Arminianizing party of the Prelates and their followers, are to be named the same day). 1700 W. Congreve iv. i. 59 That on no account you encroach upon the mens prerogative, and presume to drink healths, or toste fellows. 1796 J. H. Craig in G. M. Theal (1897) I. 455 The Hottentots..must on no account whatever be permitted..to be guilty of any sort of Insolence or outrage towards the Inhabitants. 1832 c. 45 §67 The Poll shall on no Account be kept open later than Four o'Clock in the afternoon of such Second Day. 1855 W. H. Prescott I. ii. vii. 537 He recommends the king on no account to remove Granvelle from the administration. 1918 B. Webb 24 Jan. (1952) I. ii. 107 The British Trade Union representative will, on no account, be late for his meals or early for his meetings. 1969 J. Orton i. 24 She's under strong sedation and on no account to be disturbed. 2004 Mar. 25/3 On no account leave Lisbon without sampling the exquisite Pastéis de Nata, a diminutive, creamy, custard tart of totally addictive deliciousness. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > on account of which or wherefore 1928 30 Aug. 17/3 Him mumma pay me two and sixpence fer to tie him up palate lock on account of he cough, but dat facety boy no hold him so still me tie de wrong lock. 1942 July 62 Fred's five foot ten..but I tell him he's still a shrimp, account of I'm so tall. 1960 W. Goldman v. 203 I don't usually like to have sexual intercourse with nobody unless they got a rubber-johnny, on account of I don't much want to get pregnant. 2008 E. Feldman iv. 64 If folks where you come from don't know, it's only on account of they don't want to. P2. Verbal phrases. a. Senses related to the management of a bank or similar account, or of a creditor's account. 1628 28 Which sum wee may thereupon affirme is brought to vs in Treasure to ballance the accompt. 1796 E. Burke (1844) IV. 383 Thus we balance the account;—defeat and dishonour abroad; oppression at home. 1826 16 19 It may therefore be worth while at this commencement of a new year for us to balance accounts with our readers, and, in the trader's phrase, to ‘take stock’. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton III. x. xx. 203 When you have squared your account with ‘delicacy’..come to me. 1920 Nov. 921 (advt.) With McCaskey Visible Accounting, only..the original entry..is required to post and balance the account ready for instant settlement. 1996 11 Sept. 13/5 If they [sc. Churches] conduct themselves according to the laws of the land, balance their accounts and avoid the attentions of the Charity Commissioners, they deserve a degree of privacy. 1678 R. L'Estrange tr. ii. 7 For there are, that reckon it an Obligation..and place it to Accompt. 1687 E. Settle 27 The poorest Servitour in the University would tell him that putting so much upon a mans name, had signified placing so much to his account. 1709 R. Steele No. 60. ⁋2 Pray pay to Mr. Tho. Wildair, or Order, the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, and place it to the Account of Yours, Humphrey Wildair. 1729 W. Law i. 12 Placed to her account at the last day. c1790 J. Willock 308 When a priest apostatizes..they seldom place his defect to the account of conscience. 1828 E. Irving I. p. liv Whatever He..forewent of infinite glory..is to be placed to the account of mankind. 1884 Jan. 110 Capons, eggs, salmon, eels, herring, &c..passed to the account of the kitchener. 1905 60 982/2 When he had the money placed to his account at his bankers, he possessed a large amount of property and thought the trust fund quite safe. 1956 S. W. Bruchey (1979) App. A. 375 If all the debits and credits placed to Oliver's account from the beginning of the Journal..to the entry of March 3, 1789 are added, the following result is obtained [etc.]. 1989 J. R. Edwards & H. J. Mellett vi. 120 Calculate the difference between the sides of the trial balance that was placed to suspense account. 1687 G. Miege (at cited word) To settle an Account, regler un Conte. 1767 E. Pendleton Let. 17 Sept. in (1967) I. 32 We give this notice that we shall proceed to extremities with every one, without distinction, who does not..settle his account. 1846 N. Hawthorne II. 94 Leave me for my sake; that, having said a prayer for your safety, I may have space to settle my account, undisturbed by worldly sorrows. 1909 19 Jan. 13/6 There is sufficient cash in hand at this moment to pay every account owing by the company. 1942 D. Thomas 20 May (1987) 496 I hope the cheque for the agreed amount can be sent on very quickly, as I am trying to settle all my accounts etc. before moving. 1967 M. M. Edwards x. 228 They settled the account by sending three cheques, three bills of exchange, and goods worth £11 14s. 10½d. 1999 A. Dubus (2000) 22 There was a well-dressed lady and gentleman settling their account at the desk. a1722 J. Toland (1726) I. 458 This Bank..is a general Cash-keeper..: every one paying ten Guilders at the opening of his account.] 1739 R. Hayes (ed. 4) xi. 302 He is obliged to pay a considerable Sum of Money for having an Account opened for him. 1759 S. Johnson 18 Feb. (1992) i. 183 Kitty may close her mistress's account and begin her own. 1833 H. Martineau i. i. 7 He waited in some impatience the opportunity of learning with what bank this great merchant meant to open an account. 1850 W. M. Thackeray II. iii. 29 Pen thought of opening an account at a banker's. 1932 P. G. Wodehouse Let. 1 Dec. in (1990) iv. 115 I am going to open an account for seven hundred quid at your bank . 1949 P. H. Buck iv. iv. 516 Thus death closed the account of the body, and the soul (wairua) entered the spirit land (reinga) with a clean sheet and without apprehension. 2001 M. Blake xxi. 240 He had opened a new holding account in the name of ‘Complete Computers’. b. the world > action or operation > advantage > be advantageous or beneficial to [verb (transitive)] > benefit from 1669 J. Dryden ii. ii. 21 You'l not find your account in this trick to get Failer beaten; 'tis too palpable and open. 1701 J. Swift iii. 36 Wherein they expected best to find their own Accounts. 1740 H. Bracken (ed. 2) II. vi. 231 I have always found my Account in such Method. 1788 J. Priestley v. lxvi. 545 Gaul manifestly found its account in being conquered by the Romans. 1860 H. D. Thoreau Let. 4 Nov. in (1958) 597 However, he found his account in it, as well as I. 1923 A. W. Ward in A. W. Ward & G. P. Gooch I. Introd. 98 Austria would..not find her account in joining such a war. 1948 38 6 If in some seasons it [sc. British rule]found its account in Indian disunity, it can hardly be denied that in the creation of a great, if inadequate, system of transport and communications..it laid firmer bases for unification than had previously existed. 1596 ‘L. Pyott’ tr. A. Sylvain vi. 58 We are no more bounden to giue an account of our actions, then he is of his. 1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ § i. 4 If we were called to give an account of this Syllabicall Errour before a Deske of Grammarians. 1667 N. Fairfax Let. 28 Sept. in H. Oldenburg (1966) III. 494 After an uncuth way wch she can give no very good account of. but onely twas so yt she mistrusted all was not right wth her. 1739 T. Gray Let. 21 Nov. in (1971) I. 130 This is the first coup d'œil, and is almost all I am yet able to give you an account of. 1775 S. Johnson 9 July (1992) II. 242 I am so much disordered by indigestion of which I can give no account, that it is difficult to write more. 1782 W. Cowper Conversation in 213 All shall give account of ev'ry wrong Who dare dishonour or defile the tongue. 1849 24 Nov. 338/2 Far from our thoughts being harmless..we shall have to give account of them all at the day of judgment. 1886 J. Ruskin I. x. 307 I must..cease talk of pictorial and rhythmic efforts..and go back to give account of another segment of my learning. 1908 J. H. Ramsay ii. 30 De Burgh..summoned the chief citizens to give account of the uproar. 1966 U. Beier tr. O. Ijimere 64 I have come to fetch you, Get ready now. To give account of your life Before the throne of Oludumare. 2001 I. McEwan 154 Then she gave an account of how the dinner ended with the twins' note. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] 1601 tr. M. Martínez xxiii. sig. Ii 2 It behoued him to giue a good account of himselfe, or not to bee called the sonne of the great Trebatius. 1617 F. Moryson ii. ii. i. 109 We doe hope to giue her Maiestie a very good account of her Kingdome, and of our selues. 1684 iv. 81 Offering that with an Army of 60 thousand..he did not doubt but to give a good account of this Summers Campaign. 1720 J. Burchett v. xxii. 722 Had our Ships been clean, they might in all Probability have given a good Account of them. 1779 J. Wesley 29 Dec. (1786) XIX. 16 We have a musket and a fusee. If you load one, as fast as I discharge the other, I will give a good account of them all. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage I. i. ii. 24 Those said eggs of which he had given so good an account. 1883 R. L. Stevenson iv. xvi. 133 We flattered ourselves we should be able to give a good account of a half-dozen [sc. mutineers] at least. 1928 7 Aug. 8/3 They are likely to give a very good account of themselves in the big fight. 1955 H. J. Grossman (rev. ed.) ix. 117 Although sometimes called ‘Spanish Claret’, they do not pretend to be anything but Rioja, and they give a good account of themselves as such. 1999 July 13/1 The Shadow..will still give a good account of itself at the stoplight Gran Prix. the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] 1817 10 May 110 Let us be diligent and faithful stewards, whom when the Lord cometh he shall find ready to hand in their accounts with joy. 1873 T. B. Aldrich 150 The hotel remains to-day pretty much the same as when Jonathan Bayley handed in his accounts in 1840. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > anticipation, forecast > anticipate, forecast [verb (transitive)] 1606 W. Arthur & H. Charteris (1 Thess.) xix. 232 Men hes beene curious to lay an account if Christes comming shall be in this yeere, in this age. 1656 J. Fergusson iv. 114 The duties which are required in it, are so many, such as laying our account to meet with changes. 1687 A. Shields 292 All must lay their account with suffering, and litle else can be attempted but which will encrease sufferings. 1746 189 These are fixed Resolutions, on which your Royal Highness may lay your account. 1799 H. Dundas in Marquess Wellesley (1877) 644 We must lay our account with being at all times obstructed in our views. 1827 H. Hallam I. v. 251 The jurors must have laid their account with appearing before the Star-chamber. 1845 J. R. McCulloch iii. ii. 443 We may lay our account with being again involved in war. 1901 A. Menzies 134 He wondered at the unbelief of his fellow-townsmen. He was able..to see it to be a thing every prophet must lay his account with, yet it grieved him. 1996 C. I. Macafee 2/1 Lay out your accounts, 1 make your plans. 2 endeavour, make it your business e.g. A'll lay out my accounts tae see him. 1846 20 Sept. 6/1 Lee looked mischief, and opened his account with two fours. 1890 21 Aug. 6/3 Maclaren soon opens his account.., but gently snipping a ball from Streatfeild he is easily caught by Abel in the slips. 1918 6 Oct. ii. 3/6 With a defeat of Townsend Harris Hall by a score of 1 goal to 0..the Manual Training High School soccer players opened their account in the annual high school championship. 1951 6 Apr. 18/4 It was only justice when their right-centre Hunt opened their account with a try. 1984 25 May 27/3 That form reads better than anything her rivals have achieved, and Oakwood Park is napped to open her account. 2000 8 Sept. 28/1 Philip Healy, with a pointed free, opened their account in the 12th minute. g. 1549 H. Latimer sig. Ciiv God..wyll take account of euery one that bearith rule therin for the executing of their offices. 1662 J. Glanvill i. 3 Let us take some account of what the 2 first opinions alledge one against another. 1770 S. Baldwin App. 168 The proper officer of the Customs [is to] take account of her tonnage by admeasurement. 1802 C. James Muster-master-general, Commissary-general of the Musters, one who takes account of every regiment, their number, horses, arms, &c. 1868 C. Kingsley iv. 129 Do you take no account of my rule? 1900 P. C. Simpson v. 184 Any true or satisfying view of life must take account of death. 1959 R. Toeman i. 11 Taking account of pipe friction,..it will be apparent that a valve and pipe system of ½ to ¾ inch B.S.P. at least, would be involved. 2005 C. Tudge ii. 43 The use of the computer..has vastly increased the amount of data that taxonomists are now able to take account of. 1653 Bp. J. Taylor (rev. ed.) i. vi. 99 [It] should be left out of the account. 1701 J. Tillotson 223 Not that sins of commission shall then be past by and left out of the account. 1752 13 [September] Therefore 11 Days is left out of Account, in this Month. 1816 R. Wardlaw ii. ix. 292 I really do not think it very necessary..to leave out of account the original dignity of the person sent. 1833 A. Sedgwick App. 96 A system that defines moral right by the standard of worldly utility..leaves out of account the best active principles of our nature. 1875 W. D. Whitney xiv. 284 He who..leaves this force out of account, cannot but make utter shipwreck of his whole linguistic philosophy. 1919 M. Beer I. ii. iv. 152 We have been dealing with pure theory, leaving out of account such factors as supply and demand. 1950 J. G. Greenfield in 73 150 Dr. van Bogaert's term ‘leuco-encephalitis’..leaves out of account the cortical changes which are also important. 2001 24 Apr. ii. 7/2 That ceiling figure of £15.8 million entirely leaves out of account the sums spent..by the candidates fighting in the constituencies. the mind > attention and judgement > attention > take notice of, heed [verb (transitive)] > take into account, consider 1660 Bp. J. Taylor i. vi. 216 All our infirmities and ignorances, and unavoidable prejudices are taken into account. 1689 J. Chetham (ed. 2) xl. 304 Some Rivulets are taken into the Accompt. 1727 J. Spence 148 Had he been less obliging to the taste of his Readers, his performance might have been more sinewy, and more compleat. This ought certainly to be taken into the account. 1799 W. Godwin I. v. 142 I did not take into the account the ungovernableness of my own passions. 1844 Ld. Brougham II. v. 130 I will..take the royal training into my account. 1871 S. Smiles i. 25 It is not great men only that have to be taken into account. 1907 13/1 The observant always take into account that some women look nicest in emphatic contrasts. 1968 c. 72 §54 Matters which may be taken into account by the Minister in listing buildings. 2001 P. Duncan ii. 33 Them dreams never took into account a flatlander from Davis come to Madison County to work the talc mines. P3. Noun phrases. 1569 J. Peele Dialogue Scholemaster & Scholler in sig. Diiiv The percell there on the creditour syde..is borne to his accompte currant for readye monie. 1589 J. B. 30 For which i will make you creditor in account currant. 1654 J. Price 44 His receipts are in his eyes, and his account current in his heart. 1682 J. Scarlett 39 The account currant..should alwayes be clear and demonstrative, and show how the account stands with the Correspondent at all times. 1761 J. Wright p. xiv This Way of keeping the Account Current in the Ledger is absolutely necessary, when the Correspondent in the Plantations is a Factor. 1836 J. W. Gilbart (ed. 4) iii. 29 By means of a monthly account current he has a full view of all these transactions. 1936 P. W. Chandler 2 In Scotland..the accounts of private trusts are there kept by the solicitor who acts for trustees, and he annually or periodically puts the account current into the form of an ‘Account Charge and Discharge’. 1993 S. Smith in G. Jones & M. B. Rose 64 The account current book, ledger, waste book and cash book were all brought before the Court. 1701 A. J. App. By the last Ship I remitted you account Sales of the Parcel of Silk Stockings and the Three Boxes of Hats. 1836 27 July 7/2 (advt.) Actual and pro forma statements of British and foreign invoices and account sales. 1900 W. W. Snailum i. xiii. 136 When the agent completes the sale of the consignment he sends an ‘account sales’ to his principal. 2003 A. Mukherjee & M. Hanif xii. 45 An Account Sales was received by Sadhan showing that 750 units were sold at Rs 150 each. 1812 J. Lambert 20 Perpetual Balance, the chief principle of which, is the keeping the whole of the Personal Accounts under the general heads of ‘Accounts Payable’ and ‘Accounts Receivable’. 1913 J. L. Nicholson viii. 103 In order to facilitate the making of proper classifications, and their entry in the accounts payable register, it is well to have the names of the accounts which are most frequently affected printed upon the voucher. 1957 III. 867/1 After 1950 there was a rapid expansion in the use of electronic tabulating and calculating machines for..the summation of accounts receivable and payable. 1991 Feb. 40/1 The program tracks discount dates for accounts payable. 1889 (Instit. of Bankers) (ed. 3) 54 A cheque to order is crossed within transverse lines ‘Account payee’. 1902 18 Jan. 65/2 All cheques in payment of taxes should therefore be made payable to the Inland Revenue Commissioners, and crossed ‘Account payee only. Not negotiable’. 1948 11 251 The discussion of the effect of marking a cheque ‘account payee’..overlooks the important contribution to this topic made by the late Sir John Paget. 1992 Oct. 8/5 Cheques crossed and marked ‘Account Payee’ or ‘Account Payee only’ can only be paid into the account of the payee named on the cheque. 2005 A. G. Gordon & M. D. Chalmers 765 It will ordinarily be negligent for a banker to collect, without inquiry, a cheque crossed ‘account payee’. 1812 J. Lambert 20 Perpetual Balance, the chief principle of which, is the keeping the whole of the Personal Accounts under the general heads of ‘Accounts Payable’ and ‘Accounts Receivable’. 1917 C. E. Woods (1919) xiv. 267 Account No. A-3, ‘Accounts Receivable’.., is made up by taking from the sales analysis the total sales for the month. 1958 7 Feb. 6/7 They have arranged that Prudence pay the check, since she works in Accounts Receivable. 2003 D. L. Scott (ed. 3) 3 Accounts receivable turnover is calculated by dividing the average amount of receivables into annual credit sales. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > other types of statement a1683 W. Scroggs (1714) 185 An Action of Debt lies where any Sum of Money is due to a Man by Reason of any Account stated, Bargain, Contract, [etc.]. 1787 J. Mitford (ed. 2) 208 A plea of a stated account is a good bar to a bill for an account. 1834 J. Chitty (ed. 2) iii. 284 The value may be recovered under the count on an account stated, if the defendant has adopted the valuation. 1901 C. L. Bates xii. 344 Signing the account is not necessary to make it a stated one; but acquiescence in it, such as retaining it a reasonable length of time without objection, will render it a stated account. 2010 A. Winston & J. Winston i. 11 The account stated is often used where the parties entered an oral agreement and then bills were sent to the defendant each month. Compounds C1. With first element in singular form. 1655 (single sheet) We are sorry to hear Sir William glory in oppression, our imprisonments, fining, selling our cattel, without any account making, taking our Land against our consents. 1764 J. Grove 240 One of the account writers of our noble Duke's actions. 1789 M. Madan tr. Persius Satires i, in II. 325 Nor who..knows to laugh at the numbers of an account-table. 1835 4 July 7/1 The credit side of the account-sheet of this seaman's life was fraught with a copious list of wonders. 1883 Sept. 193/2 The account record of the work done and material furnished for any order or contract should be as minute and as detailed as the plans..from which the work is to be executed. 1921 (Internat. Corr. Schools) 28 Proceed as to close any other account for a cash balance, then proceed to carry down any stock which the account owner may be long or short of. 1962 H. O. Beecheno x. 90 An Account Director..is the administrative officer who looks after particular clients' interests. 1972 25 Apr. 2/7 Data is ‘spooled’ on to discs or magnetic tape, and customers' account files are updated at the end of the day. 1987 C. D. Chase iv. xiv. 263 Its commissions total up to 10 percent of your account value. 2008 21 Feb. (Technol. section) 2/3 Never give personal or account details to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. b. 1961 26 Oct. 20 (advt.) Account administrators... Program management positions including responsibility for direction of all phases of assigned accounts. 1999 (Nexis) 2 Mar. The SubscribNet administration console enables an account administrator to easily add or delete contacts, create groups, and assign multiple levels of account authorization. 2004 R. Genetski in M. D. Tanner iv. xv. 320 The only additional burden on owners of small businesses would be sending the information to the account administrator. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > account book > difference between sides > specific 1789 Mr. Wilton ii. 35 Sir, here's the account balance struck. It stands thus, eighty for the picture, deduct thirty for this beautiful suit, and fifty remains to you. ?1876 10 (Acct. Departmental Orders) 21 The account balance of the district (shown in the cash book). 1935 48 845 The bank held a demand note of the depositor larger in amount than the account balance. 2006 23 Oct. r4/4 You might punch in ‘* bal’ to check your account balance. 1838 19 Apr. 1/3 Accounts were afterwards audited by the account-clerk. 1958 (U.S. Public Health Service) 73 920/2 The executive director is assisted by a staff consisting of..a stenographer, a typist, and an account clerk. 2011 (Nexis) 17 Apr. a8 Her department will lose an account clerk in the latest drawdown. 1874 Feb. 186 The acceptor, his brother, our account-holder, a steady, most industrious man, also insured for like amount. 1973 24 Jan. (Security Printing Suppl.) p. i/9 The account holder's name and initials are printed on to the cheque. 2010 J. Coplien & G. Bjørnvig vii. 199 The Account Holder selects a source account and chooses to transfer money. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > [noun] > keeper of accounts 1797 A. M. Bennett I. 163 Mr. Quibble, the village lawyer, who succeeded him as money teller, account keeper, and amanuensis. 1857 May 11 He is best able to keep the account. He is, therefore, naturally, the account-keeper. 1929 37 553 Do the men today in positions like that held by the account-keeper of 1816-17 live better than he did? 2009 P. Glennie & N. Thrift iv. 110 Plebeian autobiographers and diarists were very scarce, but contain some references to clocks and watches, as that by the clerk and account keeper William Dyer in the 1760s. 1626 in W. Foster (1909) iii. 128 Our rials of eight are in base esteem here and redound to loss,..according to our account-keeping. 1757 M. Postlethwayt tr. J. Savary des Brûlons II. (ed. 2) 58/2 For matter in relation to this excellent method of account-keeping, see the articles Banking, Debtor and Creditor. 1888 P. G. Craigie Rep. on French Agric. Schools iii. 34 in (C.-5609) CVI. 613 Agricultural engineering, the construction of buildings and use of implements, and farm account-keeping have a place in the program. 1921 26 Mar. 360/2 Where the actual account keeping is not performed in the department of the chief financial officer a very satisfactory control will be obtained by a carefully designed system of internal audit. 2011 (Nexis) 12 Jan. 27 Adding to the club's worries will be the need to start all their bookwork and account keeping from scratch with most lost or destroyed by water. 1941 72 189/1 The purpose of this paper is to suggest that standards of account management can be codified and a known internal investment policy be developed. 2000 25 Feb. 64/1 (advt.) Are you looking for an opportunity to move into account management. 1873 (U.S. Dept. of State) I. 628 J. G. Hodgson, Account Manager. 1949 39 1178 The account manager must in essence ‘make’ day-to-day System open-market policy within an appreciable range of operating discretion. 2002 11 Sept. 35/2 (advt.) An experienced client-facing account manager is required to oversee and build relationships with a key account for this digital agency. 1900 XXXII. 802 A bank has been restrained, by order, from..transferring or paying out any moneys deposited ‘to the credit of the name of and under the account name of R. Strauss’. 1969 44 172/1 The account name, ‘Superfluous Expenses’, illustrates a delightful title that concisely describes the type of expenses appropriate for that account. 2011 (Nexis) 16 Mar. Click on the drop-down arrow next to your account name on the service's Web page. 1850 Jan. 45 The number on the deposit books in the hands of the depositors, answers to the ‘Account Number’ in the Ledger and in the ‘Detailed Statement of Classified Balances’. 1989 (Nexis) 6 Aug. (Citrus Times section) 1 If you are calling about your account, please touch the star sign on your telephone and then punch in your 21-digit account number. 2002 J. Zagel vi. v. 340 A man..using inside sources to get two account numbers, was able to wire-transfer several million dollars from one of our leading banks to his own account in Vienna. 1889 July 128 For the control and reconciliation of the accounts of the whole Department, there is a special account officer called the Comptroller of the Post Office. 1974 9 78 Controllable interest-bearing sources of funds, e.g., personnel costs (tellers, account officers, etc.), advertising costs, [etc.]. 2011 (Nexis) 13 Feb. e2 Ver Hoef was an account officer for the original CFS. c. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > account book 1590 R. Parsons i. 13 For as in things of this life, he were but a foolish Merchant, that for quietnesse sake would neuer looke into his account Booke, whether he were behind hand or before. 1699 R. Bentley (new ed.) 535 He represents the Account-Book of some of the wealthy Men of that Age. 1788 E. Pendleton Let. 1 Nov. in (1967) II. 548 These defendants..say that on the Account Book of their testator they found the following Articles charged to the Complainant. 1860 J. A. Froude (ed. 2) V. xxix. 460 If the account-books of twenty years of confusion..were not forthcoming and in order, they were to be proceeded against without mercy. 1930 ‘E. M. Delafield’ 175 Spend the evening trying to reconcile grave discrepancy between account-book, counterfoils of cheque-book, and rather unsympathetically worded communication from the Bank. 2004 D. Mitchell (U.K. ed.) 354 She faked offense, checking an account book, but warning him that she′d need a fresh blip of dollars if his next voyage was as long as his last. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [noun] > one who counts, reckons, or calculates 1580 C. Hollyband Dresseur de compte, an accompte caster. society > faith > aspects of faith > Bible, Scripture > biblical events > Second Coming > [noun] > apocalypse society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > stock exchange accounting period > settlement > settlement day 1671 (title) An almanack but for one day, or the Son of Man reckoning with Man, upon an high Account-Day. 1815 Principal Occurr. 29/1 He was desired to sell them for the first account day in cash. 1837 T. Carlyle I. ii. viii. 83 Now the account-day has come. 1879 R. E. Melsheimer & W. Laurence 18 On the third and last day of the settlement (called the ‘account day’ or ‘pay day’) the delivery of securities commences at ten o'clock. 1928 19 Nov. A contract setting out that these 50 shares have been sold for the account November 22—next Thursday, that is—and bought for the following account day, December 6. 2002 M. Bellalah in N. R. Sabri ix. 275 If the buyer..decides to maintain his long (short) position, he can defer the maturity of the initial negotiation to the next account day. society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > advertising > [noun] > advertiser > agency > one who manages clients' interests 1919 3 Apr. 164/1 (advt.) Copy-Writer, account executive, ten years' agency experience, originality and ability proven on number of large accounts, wishes to connect with New York agency. 1936 Feb. 8/2 If we get it, I shall make you account executive on the Braden account. 1962 H. O. Beecheno x. 90 An Account Director or Account Executive is the administrative officer who looks after particular clients' interests. 1986 20 Jan. 6/5 Account executives are the co-ordinating link with the client. 2004 21 Dec. (Central ed.) b7/1 (advt.) Looking for a Sales Director to lead a team of Account Executives in the East that are responsible for managing $100 million of existing business and identifying upselling opportunities. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > account book 1879 3 Feb. 5/7 The day-book only contained his professional charges against clients, which were transferred to the account ledger. 1887 28 May 1/3 (advt.) Account Ledger 15s dozen. 1935 25 265 The secretary is required to maintain an account ledger and to charge expenditures against the proper appropriations. 2011 (Nexis) 31 Mar. An account ledger with a client identifier after every transaction. C2. With the first element in plural form, chiefly in the context of the administration or management of the accounts of a company or other organization. 1873 12 A Sub-Committee of the Delegates, called the ‘Accounts Committee’, meets on the third Wednesday and the last Wednesday in each month. 1905 2 June 5/6 The Committee express satisfaction at the creation of an accounts branch. 1974 21 Apr. 16 (advt.) Your accounts director won't niggle at the bill at the Ormonde Restaurant. 1991 Dec. 105/1 A firm of chartered accountants wanted to computerize all its accounts,..everything from accounts production, tax and trust accounting. 2009 L. Zobian & A. Humm iii. 26 I work in a good old-fashioned accounts office. b. 1976 2 Sept. 21 (advt.) Accounts administrator..required by civil and structural consulting engineers to administer a small accounts section. 2008 D. MacKenzie in M. Mazzotti vi. 106 When the accounts administrator and the controller's other colleagues classify a transaction, it is placed in a ‘hold table’ within the ERP system. 1874 5 Feb. 6 Mr. Edward Thackray, accounts clerk. 1964 in C. Hamblett & J. Deverson 173 Between school and university I had several temp. jobs ranging from accounts clerk to van driver. 2011 (Nexis) 5 May 36 She left school at 15 and began work in a bookshop and then as an accounts clerk. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > [noun] > keeper of accounts > office or department of 1829 (H.M. Treasury) App. 51. 298 Had the Accounts Department been so constituted,..the greater part of the abuses noticed in the Comptrollers Reports to the Treasury, within the last seven years,..would never have existed. 1928 L. Urwick et al. vii. 144 The Accounts Department was responsible that the sales manager was notified if a salesman was unable to balance his payments with his receipts. 2002 R. Gervais & S. Merchant 1st Ser. Episode 1. 35 Brent. This is the accounts department. Alright? The number bods. Do not be fooled by their job descriptions. They are absolutely mad, all of them. 1922 20 Apr. 98/1 Ray Broholm, for the last two and a half years on the advertising staff of Wallaces' Farmer..has become associated with the Coolidge Advertising Company, Des Moines, as accounts executive. 1931 F. B. Lane xii. 141 The accounts executive..is usually an executive member of the agency organization and a widely-experienced advertising man. 1996 15 July 41/1 (advt.) Reporting to the Senior Accounts Executive, the post will include training in a range of accounting functions.., including sales ledger, purchase ledger, banking and charity accounting. 2004 in H. Newcomb (ed. 2) I. 2003/1 After a short stint in the magazine business, Robert Sarnoff joined NBC as an accounts executive in 1948. 1903 15 May 16/4 (advt.) Accounts manager..requires fresh situation. First-class references. 1951 10 8 Before becoming associated with that bank in 1941, he was an accounts manager for Lionel D. Edie & Company. 2001 27 Jan. (‘The Business’ Suppl.) 41/4 (advt.) Romantic, 22, accounts manager, enjoys eating out, travelling, dancing, looking for a like minded female for friendship or relationship. 1876 25 June Certain claims, reported by the accounts officers of the treasury. 1944 14 313/2 Nor is the disbursing officer authorized to make payment until the account is approved for payment by the accounts officer. 2011 (Nexis) 15 Apr. 4 A senior accounts officer..was one of the people arrested more than four years ago in connection with an apparent land scam in Mamelodi East. c. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > account book 1461–2 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1461 §16. m. 10 The oold bookes, evidences, writyngs, custumaries, courtrolles, particuler accomptes bookes called the pipes. 1855 7 Apr. 6/6 The accounts book of Mr. Raynor was here produced and handed to Mr. Unwin. 2003 J. Carroll (2005) 267 They have my accounts book. Would you make them give me my accounts book back? This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022). accountv. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French accounter. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman acounter, aconpter, accomptier, accomptere, Anglo-Norman and Old French acunter, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French aconter, Middle French acompter, accompter to count, enumerate (c1100), to relate, tell, to include (something) in a reckoning, count in, to calculate (all early 12th cent.), to consider, deem, to value, consider important (c1280), to present financial accounts (early 14th cent.), to matter, be of account (mid 14th cent.) < a- a- prefix5 + cunter , conter count v. Compare Old Occitan acomtar, acontar (c1150), post-classical Latin accomputare (1661 in a British source).The β. forms reflect Anglo-Norman and Middle French accompter , acompter , etc.: for the development of forms of this type and their history in French see discussion at count v. On the Anglo-Norman, Middle French, and Middle English forms in acc- compare discussion at ac- prefix. Compare also similar forms at account n. I. To render a reckoning. the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > expound, explain [verb (transitive)] c1300 St. Theophilus (Laud) l. 34 in C. Horstmann (1887) 289 (MED) Þene heie feond he fond þere..And al his maynie a-boute him, for-to a-counti heore mis-dede. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 2014 (MED) What thing it mai amonte, That he schal afterward acompte. a1450 (1885) 330 (MED) Of ilk tale þou talkis vs vntill, Þou accounte sall; þou can not escappe. a1605 (c1422) T. Hoccleve Dialogus (Durh.: Stowe) l. 221 in (1970) i. 118 Many an othar wight..shall his consyence [ful] tenderly grope, and withe hym selfe acompte, & reken of all that he hathe in his lyfe wrowght. 2. c1330 in T. Wright (1839) 337 Havendel shal ben stole ar hit [sc. revenue] come togidere and acounted. 1414–15 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 121 (MED) And so, alle thinges a-forsaide accompted, we fynde the forsaide John endetted to the forsaide Thomas. 1454–5 in (1891) 15 162 So accompted to be accompted and allowed to be allowed the forseid Procurators owen vppon this accompte xiijli xixs jd. a1500 Twelve Profits of Tribulation (Rawl.) in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 401 (MED) What-soeuer thow suffreste paciently in trybulacion, afore god it is a-compted to hym as a fore-paymente of thy dette. 1614 J. Selden 243 Before him as Chief Justice were all suits determined, crimes examined, the Crown-reuenue accompted, and whatsoeuer done, which, to so great iurisdiction was competent. 1868 M. Pattison §2. 42 All receipts should be accounted to a finance committee. 1911 63 (note) The corporation has not accounted the receipts and disbursements of the American National Red Cross at Washington, which relate to funds collected by it for the relief of San Francisco. 2009 S. Pang viii. 183 Accounting the revenue manually may be cost effective if..the information is easily obtained. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > keep accounts [verb (intransitive)] > draw up or render accounts 1340 (1866) 137 (MED) Ine holy ssriftte, ine þo cort huo acounteþ ariȝt, he is al quit..huo þet ssel aȝt, him behoueþ paye. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xii. l. 298 (MED) Þe reyue oþer þe conterroller þat rekene mot and a-counte Of al þat þei hauen had. 1447–8 in S. A. Moore (1871) ii. 115 (MED) The Shirivys..accompted of the issuys and proffitis therof yn the Kynges Excheker. c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius (Linc. Cathedral 103) 76 Wilt þou accounte wiþ fortune?.. Of arrerage þou schalt not passen clere. a1525 (?1466) (1908) II. 333 (MED) The meyre with hys brytheryn..have ordenyd that all chamburlens..shal a-Coynt for ther offyse for the sum of lxvj li. a1557 J. Cheke tr. (1843) xviii. 71 Lijk vnto a man which is a king which wold com to accompt with his servants. a1605 (c1422) T. Hoccleve Dialogus (Durh.: Stowe) l. 221 in (1970) i. 118 Many an othar wight..shall his consyence [ful] tenderly grope, and withe hym selfe acompte, & reken of all that he hathe in his lyfe wrowght. 1687 Royal Order 27 Nov. in mmccxcviii/1 And that they do likewise Accompt every two Months with each Soldier for Six-Pence per Week more. a1713 T. Ellwood (1714) 260 To take a journey into Kent and Sussex, to Accompt with their Tenants, and overlook their Estates. 1780 E. Burke 52 We have a long succession of pay-masters and their representatives, who have never been admitted to account, although perfectly ready to do so. 1817 J. Mill II. iv. v. 189 Both insisted upon the fact, that Ramnarain was ready to account fairly. 1866 F. Hilliard (ed. 3) II. xl. 465 But if the agent conducted fairly in the sale of the property,..accounting honestly according to his best means, [etc.]. 1921 G. G. Bogert xii. 340 In order that he may be able to account accurately,..the trustee should not mingle the trust property with other property. 3. intransitive. With for. c1426 J. Audelay (1931) 95 Ȝe schul acownt euerechon Fore ȝour goodis. 1439–40 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1439 §19. m. 13 Þe said feoffes..shall not be compelled to accompt for the said revenus, in noon oþer place þan afore the auditour..of the said feffes. 1583 ii. xiv. 58 Some thinks that it [sc. the Exchequer] was first called statarium, because that there was the stable place to account for the reuenues of the crowne. 1693 T. Creech tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal xiii. 270 At once accounting for his deep Arrears. 1715 R. North (ed. 2) 21 A school-Boy, bid to accompt for his petty Cash, will naturally fall in to do it so. 1794 J. O'Keeffe (new ed.) iii. i. 59 Give me the cash, I must account for his pocket money. 1825 12 May 1/3 The master river driver shall account for the proceeds of the sale of said logs, to aid in defraying the expenses of driving the river, annually. 1870 23 Sept. 11/2 The lady superintendent has been ‘superseded’ on account of her inability to account for certain sums of money. 1906 (rev. ed.) Art. 1802 §2 The Officer in charge of stores in the parent ship is to be responsible, and is to account for stores supplied to the tender. 1995 July 9/2 (advt.) Weigh the bold thesis of this landmark book: symbolic script arose not from pictograms, as previously thought, but from clay tokens used to count and account for goods. society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > be under responsibility [verb (intransitive)] > assume or accept responsibility 1572 ii. f. 150 Nowe who euer heard, that the Gentleman and Yeoman, the Artisan, and the Labourer, haue to accounte for that before God, Whereof the Baron, the Uicount, the Earle, and Duke stand free & not chargeable? 1679 W. Penn i. sig. F2v If every poor Soul must Account for the Employment of the small Talent he has received from God. 1706 F. Atterbury 5 A Future Reckoning, wherein the Pleasures they now taste, must be accounted for. 1895 11 Nov. 3/1 The inventor of a tintometer has told us recently that he can account for 60,000,000 shades of colour. 1933 ‘E. M. Delafield’ 21 Am occasionally made uneasy at recollection of pious axiom dating back to early childhood, to the effect that every idle word spoken will one day have to be accounted for. the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > explain [verb (intransitive)] > give account of the world > existence and causation > causation > attribution or assignment of cause > assign a cause [verb (intransitive)] 1643 Let. 9 Feb. in (1882) II. 158 There is much blood spilt that must be accompted for to his Majestie. 1674 R. Boyle About Excellency & Grounds Mech. Hypothesis 7 in [They] have no recourse to any peculiar agency of theirs to account for Eclipses. 1704 tr. G. Baglivi i. xi. 136 The natural Effects of an animated Body can't be accounted for..any other way, than by those Mathematico-Experimental Principles, by which Nature speaks her own Mind. 1719 S. T. 4 I believe, I shall be able to account for the Abortiveness of this Bill, which to you and your Neighbours seemed very desirable in many Respects. 1770 ‘Junius’ (1772) II. xli. 123 How will you account for the conclusion? 1794 R. J. Sulivan I. 209 In accounting for the monsoons, however, it is necessary to mark the peculiar circumstances which obtain in the Indian Ocean. 1800 M. Trench (1862) 86 I dined also again with the Arnsteins, who I see hate the Austrian government. She is a Prussian, and according to the late cant phrase ‘That accounts for it’. 1860 J. Tyndall ii. §4. 248 Having thus accounted for the greater cold of the higher atmospheric regions. 1911 45 256 For, granting the facts of mutation, we have only accounted for a micro-evolution. 1968 M. L. Blum & J. C. Naylor iv. 113 Numerous reasons have been suggested to account for the general lack of success in industrial situations of personality inventories. 1972 M. Shadbolt viii. 113 I am obviously not my brother's keeper. I cannot be expected to account for him. 2009 B. D. Cullity & C. D. Graham (ed. 2) vii. 205 A maximum in permeability at or near the Curie point was noted by Hopkinson long before there was any theory to account for it. 1804 T. Turner 18 The trouble of entering every small expenditure in cash account, as they occur, is obnoxious to the feelings of some person, whilst others feel a satisfaction in accounting for every expence. 1839 I. P. Cory iii. 39 Checks should be given in even sums to the clerks employed for that purpose, to be accounted for by them in the petty disbursement book. 1890 A. Robertson 11 To account for the money thus received into the business, Mentor opens on the ledger an account styled ‘Cash’, to the debit side of which he posts the $160. 1934 9 78/2 The amount paid for the treasury shares is the only amount to be accounted for, and this is shown as a reduction of surplus by the use of a surplus-offset account. 1991 Sept. 26/2 For accounting purposes brands are subsumed within goodwill and should be accounted for accordingly. 2000 (Cable & Wireless) 80/2 Under US GAAP capacity sales entered into after 30 June 1999 are required to be accounted for as operating leases unless title under the lease is transferred to the lessee. 1839 May 375/1 Collecting now all the separate portions, there were found,—Of coarse sand..24 grains... Leaving 10 grains to be accounted for. 1860 (1861) 19 Grand Rapids Artillery... No. present, 26; present and accounted for, 30. 1917 Apr. 13/2 The stock of blank work checks should be kept under lock and key and the girl who makes them out should be made to account for every single check by number. 1933 E. O'Neill i. 22 Sid... How are you spending the festive Fourth?.. Arthur... We're going to have a picnic lunch on Strawberry Island. And this evening I'm staying at the Rands' for dinner. Miller You're accounted for, then. 1990 Apr. 2 1/1 Some prison staff were not accounted for and there were fears for their safety. 2010 3 Sept. (Business section) b3/2 Thirteen people were seen huddled together in the water wearing..water protection suits, so we were able to confirm that all people were accounted for. the world > life > death > cause of death > cause death [verb (intransitive)] the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (intransitive)] society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (intransitive)] > win 1848 W. M. Thackeray xlv. 405 The persecuted animals sneaked above-ground: the terrier accounted for one, the keeper for another. 1858 Let. fr. Lahore 28 Apr. in 19 Nov. In the course of one week they were hunted up and accounted for; and you know that in Punjab phraseology ‘accounting for’ means the extreme fate due to mutineers. 1914 G. W. Young viii. 157 A German mitrailleuse car..has rushed on a French outpost... But the car is—we are told—‘accounted for’. 1928 25 July 14/1 The filly should account for Pure Gem, Falakeh, and company. 1977 June 28/3 The spinners accounted for Fredericks, Richards, and Shillingford. 1996 8 Feb. 17/4 At Brisbane in 1933 he bowled the ‘unbowlable’ Woodfull..and his googly accounted for Bradman. the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > be (part of) [verb (transitive)] > be the or a component(s) of 1893 Oct. 728 The train equipment of the road consists of eighteen trains, weighing when loaded about ninety-six tons each, the motor car accounting for thirty tons of this weight and the other cars for twenty-two tons each. 1905 14 Mar. 1/7 The artillery rearmament scheme accounts for £1,213,000. 1941 45 953 Electroviscosity accounts for 59 per cent of the specific viscosity. 1989 July 64/2 Tomato ketchup remains Heinz' most popular American product, accounting for more than 50% of the US market. 2007 T. Friend vii. 216 Valley obtained his samples in the Yilgarn Craton, a huge stretch of ancient continental crust that accounts for most of western Australia's land mass. II. To count or reckon. 4. the world > time > reckoning of time > reckon or measure time [verb (transitive)] the world > relative properties > number > mathematics > calculate or solve [verb (transitive)] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 277 (MED) Þe ȝeres of kynges and of emperours bygynneþ and endeþ certenliche but riȝt seelde; þerfore it is harde to acounte hem wiþ þe Olimpias oþer wiþ þe ȝeres of oure Lorde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. l. 156 (MED) The wise man acompteth After the formel proprete Of Algorismes Abece. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 122v Þe grees [L. greci] acountiþ tyme and ȝeres fro þe firste olimpias. a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate (Arun.) (1911) 4622 (MED) It was acountyd..Four hundred ȝeer..To-foor the beelding and fundacioun Of gret Rome. a1464 J. Capgrave (Cambr.) 311 (MED) His hoost was not acoundid passing viii thousand. 1547 J. Harrison 214 Wee accompt nobilitie by auncientie of yeres. ?a1560 L. Digges (1571) i. xvii. sig. Eiij v It is also to be wayed how this difference of highnesse and lownesse is to be accompted. 1625 N. Carpenter ii. xiv. 224 The second is accompted from the Pole: the other is conceiued to lye betwixt both. 1692 J. Ray 25 I suppose that the Deity doth account days of a thousand years long. 1766 T. Chalkley (ed. 4) 71 Which were to the Number of Forty-five, thus accounted. 1788 W. Marsden in (Royal Soc.) 78 414 The era of the Mahometans, called by them the Hejerà, or Departure, is accounted from the year of the flight of Mahomet..from Mecca. 1845 H. W. Cripps v. i. 508 The six months..are to be accounted from the time of the death of the last incumbent. 1895 A. Philip App., 304 The year is understood in this Answer and in all the others to be accounted from the end of the harvest vacation of one year to the beginning of the harvest vacation in the next year. 1978 68 16/1 The costs of such a program, as usually accounted, are its costs of operation plus the wages foregone by workers while engaged in training. 1997 H. J. G. H. Oosterhuis iii. 67 The [likelihood ratios] of the three most used tests..can be accounted from table 3.1. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > include [verb (transitive)] > count in or include among c1390 (c1350) Proprium Sanctorum in (1888) 81 94 (MED) Among þis noumbre acounted was Steuene, þat stoned was in plas. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 68v So þat þe firste day & þe laste ben acountid in þe tale. 1455 in (1891) 15 151 Summa of the said Juelx..weyen nine score and six unces, the said boxe of Iuery not accompted. 1481 W. Caxton tr. i. vi. sig. c2 The philosophres that thenne were..acompted but thre maner of peple in the world. a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden (1842) (modernized text) 387 I perceive thou art more happier than all these, Calistus; but it shameth me nothing to be accounted among them, and to be partaker of this unwellefulness with them. 1584 T. Cogan clxxvi. 139 Accounting the Lent season, and all fasting dayes in the yere together with Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 1614 W. Raleigh i. ii. xiii. §8. 440 By accounting of some part of the yeares of affliction..we haue the iust number of 300. yeares. 1826 R. Southey in 34 335 They argued that Wales, Scotland, and Ireland ought to be accounted with England. 1886 212 Accounting the years between six and twenty-one as the school age, there should be recognized a difference in the food appropriate for the beginning of this period from that best suited to its closing years. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > include [verb (transitive)] > in a class, description, or reckoning a1464 J. Capgrave (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 181 In þe on and fifty ȝere of his regne he [sc. Edward III] deyed at Schene,..whech ȝere is acountid onto Richardis tyme and not to his. 1541–2 c. 5 §1 Every horse..to be..in heyght xiiij handfulles, reconynge and accounting to every handfull foure ynches. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 170/1 in I Some..accompt that yeare vnto his raigne, in the whych his predecessors Osrick and Eaufride raigned. 1675 T. Brooks 326 The imputation of Christ's Righteousness to us is a gracious Act of God the Father, according to his good will and pleasure, whereby as a Judge he accounts believers sins unto the Surety, as if he had committed the same. 1846 D. W. Jerrold 67 You have all sorts of graces accounted to you. 1867 H. N. Pierce tr. L. Mühlbach xxxv. 383 That sin is forgiven you; and by God and by your king it shall be accounted to you as a virtue. 1910 A. Bennett xiii. 129 His father had seen loss of life which might be accounted to his negligence. 1958 M. R. B. Shaw tr. Stendhal xxv. 445 All those resolute traits in Fabrizio's character, which formerly had so greatly shocked the..courtiers, were now accounted to him as virtues. 2006 S. Christian i. 39 God spoke to Abraham, and when Abraham believed God, it was accounted to him as righteousness. 1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer i. f. 2v For euery man accompted sure, that after losse of life, They should receyue eternall blisse, and heauen voyde of strife. 1609 T. Bodley 7 Dec. (1926) 186 So yow may account..to make vse of my frindship [sic]. ?1677 S. Primatt 32 It may be accompted that a yard of Earth square will make seven or eight hundred of Bricks. 1698 74 Some accounted that as much was taken, as the whole Treasure was worth that Alexander the Great brought out of Persia. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (intransitive)] > reckon on 1587 G. Turberville f. 55 And selfe same day that he accompted on, to make Returne vnto his mothers house at Boline. †5. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. l. 2293 He sih The sterres suche as he acompteth. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) l. 6391 (MED) Þe katel was a-counted More þan þe testament amounted. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) i. 2740 (MED) Alweye acountyng þe houres of þe nyȝt. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine 78/4 I knowe wel that my fader and my moder acompte the dayes. 1509 (de Worde) sig. P.viii No nombre it may accounte How many of them it wolde amounte. 1548 Princess Elizabeth & J. Bale tr. Queen Margaret of Angoulême f. 11 My synnes, whych are so many in nombre,..that I cannot accompte them. 1603 C. Heydon xii. 275 The number is not so great, but that it may be soone accounted. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > enumerate, reckon, or calculate [verb (intransitive)] > count c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 673 Þen con he calke & a-conte & kest on his fyngirs. a1500 (a1450) (Trin. Cambr.) 4810 (MED) And thanne he sette the pepill in his arraye, A xx Rankys, trewly for to accompt. 1631 J. Preston 198 When men have knowledge onely to know, as they have money to account with, and not to buy and sell with. 1655 T. Stanley I. i. 112 He said the Greeks made no other use of money but to accompt with it. 1776 A. Smith I. i. x. 138 He [sc. a grocer] must be able to read, write, and account . View more context for this quotation 1815 5 191 The children were not only taught to read, write, and account. 1863 G. J. Holyoake (ed. 2) Proem. 2 It was once said all could not learn to read, write, and account. Now they do learn these and other things. III. To estimate, consider. 6. To reckon, estimate, value, hold (something) (to be as described in the associated complement or phrase); to consider, regard. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 137 (MED) [Scythians] acounteþ no trespas gretter þan robberie. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Trin. Cambr. B.15.17) (1975) B. xi. l. 16 And bad me for my contenaunce acounten Clergie liȝte. c1460 (Longleat) (1889) 330 (MED) He was acounted in all londes oon of the worthiest knight. 1531 T. Elyot iii. xx. sig. evi As in rennynge, passynge the gole, is accounted but rasshenesse, so rennynge halfe waye is reproued for slownesse. 1578 J. Lyly f. 24 In the meane season accompt me thy friend. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 414 And I deliuering you, am satisfied, and therein doe account my selfe well payd. View more context for this quotation 1621 R. Burton Democritus to Rdr. 36 Wee accompt Germanes heauy dull fellowes. 1697 (Royal Soc.) 19 143 A small round nut,..some eat them, and account them as great a Regalio as Pistaches. a1727 I. Newton (1728) i. 123 Chronologers..account Phidon the seventh from Temenus. 1827 W. Scott Highland Widow in 1st Ser. I. ix. 170 The Lowland herds and harvests they accounted their own. 1859 J. S. Mill ii. 24/1 By Christianity I here mean what is accounted such by all churches and sects—the maxims and precepts contained in the New Testament. 1959 W. C. Havard ii. 52 In this branch of learning,..he must be accounted influential. 2004 P. Weidner v. 56 But though my ignorance may be accounted a fault, yet my awe must be accounted understandable. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] > consider to be, account as a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 379 It is acounted for a myracle þat leccherie reigneþ nouȝt þere, as wyn reigneþ. ?a1425 (a1415) (Harl.) (1917) 38 (MED) Bere we þe cros of Crist & richesse acounte we as cley. 1558 Bp. T. Watson i. f. v [He] would the holle church shoulde accompt him as a faythful soldiour. 1584 T. Cogan cxc. 148 It may seeme to be flesh, except you would account it as a Syren or mermaiden, that is halfe fish, and halfe flesh. 1611 Rom. viii. 36 Wee are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter. View more context for this quotation 1660 T. Fuller i. xlviii. 75 To contest and contend who shall be accounted for the greatest. 1700 H. Gandy 24 As for Episcopal Ordination that was accounted as necessary, in the primitive Church, to the making a Bishop, Priest or Deacon, as Baptism to make a Christian. 1791 Nov. 376/1 It is sufficient to allude to the history of Abelard and the famous Crichton, to prove that there was a time when it was accounted as gentleman-like an accomplishment to be a subtle reasoner. 1814 W. Scott I. xvi. 230 Chiefs..whose word was accounted as a law by all those of their own sept or clan. View more context for this quotation 1861 May 159 In the counties of Worcester, Salop, and Hereford, the root of the Tamus communis is accounted as a good specific for the rheumatism, outwardly applied. 1912 26 196/2 Other stones of notable shape, colour, appearance, e.g., belemnites, echinites, rock crystals, globular stones, are accounted as having the same origin. 1952 J. Gaer 5 A number of acanonical works now accounted as of a very early date did not come to light until recent times. 2001 R. Davies (2002) ii. iii. 60 He may have had other beliefs,..but these were to be accounted as less true (and assured) than the narrowly sensory ones. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) viii. l. 701 (MED) The king himself acompteth That he alle othre men surmonteth. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 192 Þey acounten slouþe, to dye on bedde, and grete worshepe and vertue, to dye in þe felde fiȝtyng aȝeins enemys. 1547 Bp. S. Gardiner c12 June (1933) 305 For he that I mean is accounted to have no learnyng, but a fryar quondam as I have rehearsed, and, as fryars were wont, had in hys sermon moche rayling. a1593 H. Smith (1867) II. 65 She accounted the glory of God to be taken from Israel. 1611 2 Pet. iii. 15 Account that the long suffering of the Lord is saluation. 1669 J. Bunyan 165 Those precious Stones, Paul accounts to be those that are converted by the Word. 1702 W. Daniel 18 This City by several Authors is accounted to be the largest in the World. 1779 Let. 16 Nov. in T. Jefferson (1951) III. 188 Pig iron..is accounted to be less valuable than Bar iron by two thirds. 1845 W. Mountford viii. 166 He accounted that the long-suffering of our Lord was salvation and not apathy. 1864 J. H. Newman App. 22 I account no man to be a philosopher who attempts to do more. 1921 22 Sept. 903/3 It was accounted that a boy who had not a trade was in training to be a thief. 1992 36 79 Humphrey's heirs coming to the land would be accounted by the courts to be in the land by the older title according to the doctrine of remitter. 1614 B. Rich 41 I think bribery is no sinne at all; or if it be, it is but veniall, a light offence, a matter of no reckoning to account on. 1646 J. Gregory i. 5 It is plainely void and supernumerary, and an escape not fit to be accounted upon the Sagenesse of that translation. the mind > attention and judgement > attention > take notice of, heed [verb (transitive)] > take into account, consider a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. l. 1577 (MED) The mor that he his swevene acompteth, The lasse he wot what it amonteth. c1440 (?a1400) l. 405 I accounte no kynge... Whills I see ȝowe all sounde, I sette be no more. 1483 W. Caxton tr. A. Chartier sig. iv They acompte not the pryckkyng that he hath felte in the pourchassyng of it. a1500 (Cambr. Ff.2.38) (1879) l. 26 (MED) The kynge thoght he had no pere For to acownte, nodur fer nor nere. 1548 T. Cranmer sig. Nv Yet verely (all thynges accompte) theyr losse is greater then theyr gaynes. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [phrase] > value at specific rate a1450 ( G. Chaucer (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 1237 God wote she acounted not a stre Of all my tale. 1568 E. Tilney sig. Bivv But vertues are laide aside, and nought accounted off. 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye I. 354 For euery beast is accounted of according to his vertue. 1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) ii. ii. 140/1 in (new ed.) I The see of Canturburie..whose archbishop..is..most accompted of commonlie. 1611 1 Kings x. 21 None were of siluer, it was nothing accounted of in the dayes of Solomon. View more context for this quotation 1684 R. Waller tr. 45 This Experiment is not to be much accounted of. 1718 tr. A. Pitcairne ii. vii. 197 In our Explanation and Cure of this Disease, there is no regard had to that Acid, so much accounted of by some, and by us here (viz. in Holland) in particular. 1789 W. Thomson I. vi. 167 Iron and brass furniture was nothing accounted of by the deputies of the gypsies. 1829 I. Taylor iv. 85 They are nothing to be accounted of. 1863 Canon Robinson in Mar. 410 Never was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century. 1909 7 Oct. 442/2 Those modern linguistic achievements which opened the door to the treasures of French and German literature are still nothing accounted of in the great schools of England. †IV. To recount, narrate. 9. To present a narrative or account; to recount, relate. the mind > language > speech > narration > narrate, relate, or tell [verb (transitive)] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 9 (MED) I schulde also write þe famous stories and acounte þe ȝeres from þe bygynnynge of þe world anon to oure tyme. c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 707 Why sholde I noght thyn Infortune acounte? c1440 (?a1400) l. 3929 (MED) Ten thosandez ware tynte, þe trewghe to acownt. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry (1971) xii. 25 Thensample of the doughters of the kyng of denmarke, whiche I shall acompte to yow. 1485 W. Caxton tr. sig. i.iijv/1 A messager departed..for tacompte and telle the tydynges of theyr destructyons. 1563 J. Foxe 762v/2 I was bolde to accompte vnto them mery tales of my mysery in pryson. 1590 E. Spenser iii. vi. sig. Hh4v Long worke it were, Here to account the endlesse progeny Of all the weeds, that bud and blossome there. the mind > language > speech > narration > narrate or give an account [verb (intransitive)] a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. l. 2226 In here time thei surmonte Alle othre men, that to acompte Of hem was tho the grete fame. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 1934 (MED) To þe kiddest kyng to a-count of kyngis all othire, Sire Dari. c1540 (?a1400) 5443 To acounte of þe kynges: Caras was on, And Nestor another. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021). <  n.c1300 v.c1300 |
