| 释义 |
▪ I. account, v.|əˈkaʊnt|
Forms: 3 acunte(n, 4 acounte, 5–6 acompte, acownte, accompte, accounte, 6–7 accompt, 6– account.
[a. OFr. acunte-r, aconte-r (Pr. acontar, acomtar):—late L. accomptā-re for *accomputā-re, f. ac- = ad- to + computā-re to calculate (f. com- together + putā-re to reckon). In 14th c. conter, in the original sense of computāre ‘count,’ began to be artificially respelt conpter, compter, after the Lat., the natural spelling conter remaining in the sense of narrāre ‘tell’; the variant spellings passed to aconter and Eng. account, accompt, though here with no corresponding division of meaning. The doubled -c- is part of the same refashioning.]
I. To count, reckon. Mostly Obs.
†1.
a. trans. To count, count up, enumerate. Obs.
1303R. Brunne Handlyng Synne 6392 Þe katel was acountede More þan þe testament amountede. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls Ser.) I. 9, I schulde also write þe famous stories and acounte þe ȝeres from þe bygynnynge of þe world anon to oure tyme. 1393Gower Conf. III. 78 He sigh The sterres such as he accompteth. 1430Lydg. Chron. Troy i. vi, She gan acounte and caste well the tyme. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 78/4, I knowe wel that my fader and my moder acompte the dayes. 1582Bentley Monumt. Matrones ii. 1 My sinnes..in number are so manie..that I cannot account them.
†b. absol. To count, perform the act of counting. Obs.
1393Gower Conf. III. 89 The wise man accompteth After the formal proprete Of algorismes a be, ce. 1631Preston Breastp. Love 198 When men have knowledge onely to know, as they have money to account with, and not to buy and sell with. 1660T. Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 56/2 He said, the Greeks made no other use of Money but to account with it. 1776Adam Smith Wealth of Nat. I. i. x. 117 He [a grocer] must be able to read, write, and account.
†2.
a. trans. To calculate, reckon, compute. Obs.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. (1495) ix. iv. 349 The Grekes acounte tyme and yeres fro the fyrst Olympias. 1547J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes 214 Wee accompt nobilitie by auncientie of yeres. 1571Digges Geom. Pract. i. xvii, It is also to be wayed how this difference of highnesse and lownesse is to be accompted. 1635N. Carpenter Geogr. Delin. ii. xiv. 224 The second is accompted from the pole, the other is conceiued to lye betwixt both. 1692Ray Dissol. of World 25 I suppose that the Deity doth account days of a thousand years long. 1766T. Chalkley Wks. 71 Which were to the Number of Forty-five, thus accounted. 1788Marsden in Phil. Trans. LXXVIII. 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.
†b. To reckon in, count in; to include in an enumeration or reckoning. Obs.
1481Caxton Myrrour i. vi. 29 The philosophres that thenne were..acompted but thre maner of peple in the world. 1586T. Cogan Haven of Health (1636) 159 Accounting the Lent season, and all fasting dayes in the yeare, together with Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. 1614Raleigh Hist. World ii. 372 By accounting of some part of the yeares of affliction..we have the just number of three hundred yeares. 1826Southey in Q. Rev. XXXIV. 335 They argued that Wales, Scotland, and Ireland ought to be accounted with England.
c. To reckon to, put to the credit of. rare.
1577–87Holinshed Chron. I. 115/1 Some account that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his predecessors Osrike and Eaufride reigned. 1675T. Brooks Golden Key Wks. 1867 V. 226 The imputation of Christ's righteousness to us is a gracious act of God the Father, whereby as a judge he accounts believers' sins unto the surety, as if he had committed the same. 1846D. Jerrold Chron. Clovernook Wks. 1864 IV. 408 You have all sorts of graces accounted to you.
†d. To reckon or count on, expect. Obs.
1587Turberville Trag. Ta. (1837) 108 And selfe same day that he accompted on, to make Returne unto his mother's house at Boline.
†e. To reckon or calculate that, to conclude. Obs.
1570B. Googe Popish Kingd. i. 2 b, For every man accompted sure, that after losse of life They should receyve eternall blisse, and heaven voyde of stryfe. 1667Primatt City & Country Builder 32 It may be accompted that a yard of Earth square will make seven or eight hundred of Bricks.
II. To render a reckoning.
3. a. intr. To reckon for moneys given or received, to render or receive an account.
1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xii. 298 Þe reyue oþer þe conterroller. þat rekene mot and acounte Of al þat þei hauen had. c1550Cheke Matt. xviii. 23 Lijk vnto a man which is a king which wold come to accompt with his servants. 1687Royal Order 27 Nov. in Lond. Gaz. mmccxcviii/1 And that they do likewise Accompt every two Months with each Soldier for Six-Pence per Week more. 1714T. Ellwood Autobiog. 260 To take a journey into Kent and Sussex, to Accompt with their Tenants, and overlook their Estates. 1780Burke Sp. Econ. Ref. Wks. III. 296 We have a long succession of paymasters and their representatives, who have never been admitted to account, although perfectly ready to do so. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. v. 189 Both insisted upon the fact, that Ramnarain was ready to account fairly.
b. trans. To render account of.
1614Selden Titl. Honor 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. 1868M. Pattison Academ. Organ. §2. 42 All receipts should be accounted to a finance committee.
4. To account for:
a. lit. To render an account or reckoning of money held in trust; hence,
b. to answer for discharge of duty or conduct.
1679Penn Addr. Prot. i. §8. 41 (1692) If every poor Soul must Account for the Employment of the small Talent he has received from God. a1700Dryden Juv. Sat. xiii. At once accounting for his deep arrears. a1710Atterbury Sermons (R.) A future reckoning, wherein the pleasures they now taste must be accounted for.
c. To give a satisfactory reason for, to explain.
1768Sterne Sent. Journ. (1778) I. 190 Mr. Shandy..accounted for nothing like anybody else. 1770Junius Lett. xli. 214 How will you account for the conclusion? 1794Sullivan View of Nat. I. 209 In accounting for the monsoons, however, it is necessary to mark the peculiar circumstances which obtain in the Indian Ocean. 1800Mrs. R. Trench Rem. 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.’ 1860Tyndall Glaciers ii. §4. 248 Having thus accounted for the greater cold of the higher atmospheric regions.
d. in sporting phr.: To answer for the fate of, be the death of, make away with. Also, to beat in a contest.
1842Thackeray Van. Fair II. xx, The persecuted animals bolted above ground: the terrier accounted for one, the keeper for another. 1858Let. fr. Lahore 28 Sept. in Times, 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. 1928Daily Mail 25 July 14/1 The filly should account for Pure Gem, Falakeh, and company.
III. To estimate, consider.
†5. trans. To take into account, or consideration; to consider. Obs.
1400Roberd of Cysilee 26, in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 270 The kynge thoght he had no pere For to acownte, nodur far nor nere. 1486Caxton Curial 7 They acompte not the pryckkyng that he hath felt in the pourchassyng of it.
6. trans. To reckon, estimate, value, hold (a thing to be so and so).
a. with simple complement.
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 15 And bad me for my contenaunce Acounten clergie light. Ibid. xix. 410 Neuere man..þat acounted conscience at a cokkes fether or a hennes. 1470Malory Morte d'Arthur (1817) ii. iv. That ony shold be accounted more hardy or more of prowesse. 1563Myrroure for Mag. (ed. 2) Blacksm. xxxiv. 4 Which of all wreckes we should accompt the worst. 1579Lyly Euphues 80 In the meane season accompt me thy friend. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 417 And I deliuering you, am satisfied, And therein doe account my selfe well paid. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. Democr. to Reader 36 We accompt Germanes heavy dull fellowes. 1653Walton Angler 86 A Trout..that is accounted rare meat. 1728Newton Chronol. Amended i. 123 Chronologers..account Phidon the seventh from Temenus. 1827Scott Highl. Widow I. 169 The Lowland herds and harvests they accounted their own. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. (1872) I. i. i. 2 Fortune was ever accounted inconstant. 1865Mill Liberty 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.
†b. with as, for. Obs.
1480Caxton Descr. Ireland (1520) 6/1 [It] is acounted for a myracle that lechery reygnethe not there as wyne reygneth. 1558Bp. Watson Seven Sacr. i. 5 [He] would the holle church shoulde accompt him as a faythful soldiour. 1566W. Adlington tr. Apuleius 9 Milo is called an elder man and accompted as chiefe of those whiche dwel without the walles of the Citie. 1586T. Cogan Haven of Health (1636) 170 It may seeme to be flesh, except you would account it as a Syren or Mermayden, that is halfe fish and halfe flesh. 1611Bible Rom. viii. 36 Wee are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter. 1630Prynne Anti-Arm. 118 Accounting it for a slaue, whereas it is a Lord, a King. 1660Fuller Mixt. Contempl. (1841) 211 To contest and contend who shall be accounted for the greatest. 1674Playford Musick iii. 1 Unison, Eighth, Fifteenth, are accounted as one, for every Eighth is the same.
c. with inf. or subord. clause.
1558Bp. Watson Seven Sacr. i. 4 He shall be of all the armie accompted to haue bene a faithful soldiour. a1593H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 65 She accounted the glory of God to be taken from Israel. 1611Bible 2 Peter iii. 15 Account that the long suffering of the Lord is saluation. a1626Bacon Use Com. Law 42 The Father shall there bee accompted to die without heire. 1669Bunyan Holy Citie 165 Those precious Stones, Paul accounts to be those that are converted by the Word. 1864J. H. Newman Apologia, App. 22 I account no man to be a philosopher who attempts to do more.
†d. rarely with on. Obs.
1614B. Rich Honestie of this Age (1844) 57 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. 1646J. G[regory] Notes & Obs. (1650) 5 It is plainly void and supernumerary, and an escape not fit to be accounted upon the Sagenesse of that translation.
7. To account of: To estimate, value, esteem; to think much, little, nothing, etc. of a thing. (Now only in the pass.)
c1369Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 1237 God wote she acounted nat a stree Of al my tale, so thoght me. 1587Harrison England (1877) i. 2. ii. 38 The see of Canturburie..whose archbishop..is most accompted of commonlie. 1589Beard tr. La Primaudaye Fr. Acad. 334 For everie beast is accounted of according to his vertue. 1611Bible 1 Kings x. 21 None were of siluer, it was nothing accounted of in the dayes of Solomon. 1649Selden Laws of Eng. (1739) i. xvi. 32 [They] thereby taught Princes to account of Canons but as Notions. 1684R. Waller Ess. Nat. Exper. 45 This Experiment is not to be much accounted of. 1829I. Taylor Enthus. (1867) §4. 76 They are nothing to be accounted of. 1853Lynch Self-Impr. v. 104 Let him not be accounted of, unless he has a backbone of character. 1863Canon Robinson in Macm. Mag. March, 410 Never was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century.
† IV. To recount, narrate. Obs.
†8. To recount, relate. Obs.
a. trans.
c1386Chaucer Monk's T. 715 Why schuld thyn infortune I nought accounte, Syn in astaat thou clombe were so hye. 1483Caxton G. de la Tour b 1 Thensample of the doughters of the king of denmarke which I shall acompte to yow. 1485Caxton Charles the Gr. (1880) 175 A messager departed..for tacompte and telle the tydynges. 1563Foxe A. & M. 762 b, I was bolde to accompte vnto them mery tales of my mysery in pryson. 1596Spenser F.Q. iii. vi. 30 Long worke it were Here to account the endlesse progeny Of all the weeds that bud and blossome there.
†b. intr.
1393Gower Conf. III. 160 To accompte Of hem was tho the grete fame. c1400Destr. Troy xiii. 5443 To acounte of þe kynges,—Caras was on, And Nestor another.
▪ II. account, n.|əˈkaʊnt|
Forms: 3–4 acunt, 4 acont, 4–6 acount(e, 5–6 acompt(e, accownt(e, 5– accompt, 6– account.
[a. OFr. acunt, acont, later acompt ‘account’, f. à to + cont:—late L. compt-um, cl. L. comput-um a calculation, f. computā-re to calculate: see prec. Cf. also OFr. acunte, aconte, later aconpte, accompte ‘account’, f. vb. acunter, accompter, to account; see prec. The senses of both are found in the Eng. word. The refashioned Fr. spelling accompt of 15th c. also passed into Eng., was favoured in 6–7, and is even now sometimes met with in the arithmetical sense.]
I. Counting, reckoning.
1. Counting, reckoning, enumeration, computation, calculation. Now chiefly in a few phrases: to cast accounts, to revolve or make calculations, to calculate; money of account, denominations of money used in reckoning, but not current as coins.
c1305E.E.P. (1862) 50 Eiȝte hondred ȝer & neoȝentene: bi acountes riȝte. a1360A Song of Yesterday 66 in E.E.P. 135 And in vr hertes acountès cast Day bi day. 1477Norton Ordin. Alch. (Ashm. 1652) v. 84 Twenty-six Weekes proved by accompt. 1570Billingsley Euclid v. Introd. 126, Arithmetique, the arte of accomptes and reckoning. 1597Morley Introd. Musicke 86 It is twentie miles by account from London to Ware. 1601Holland Pliny (1634) I. 74 The Greekes and Chaldeans account of yeares. 1611Bible Eccl. vii. 27 Counting one by one to finde out the account. 1612Brerewood Lang. & Relig. xiii. 140 Five miles of descent in perpendicular account. 1616Surflet & Markh. Countrey Farme 397 Women with child, and neere their accompts. 1632Massinger Maid of Hon. ii. ii, You are in a wrong account still. 1662H. More Antid. ag. Ath. (1712) i. ii. 12 When he has cast up his account. 1664G. M. in Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 103 Which according to the Moscovite accompt was the third hour of the day. 1691Locke Money Wks. 1727 II. 72, I have spoke of Silver Coin alone, because that makes the Money of Account. 1711Addison Spect. No. 25. ⁋2 As for the remaining Parts of the Pound, I keep no accompt of them. 1741Richardson Pamela (1824) I. i. 17 My lady's goodness had put me to write and cast accompts. 1742Pope Poet. Wks. (Tauchn. 1848) 286 This day Tom's fair account has run..to eighty one. 1844Lingard Hist. Anglo-Saxon Ch. (1858) II. 391 From the coinage we now proceed to moneys of account. 1871Davies Metric System iii. 204 The weights for account are different from the weights for trade. Mod. Writing good, dictation very good, quick at accounts.
II. Reckoning of money received and paid.
2. a. A reckoning as to money, a statement of moneys received and expended, with calculation of the balance; a detailed statement of money due. Hence, to open or close an account with one. to render or send in an account: to give any one a statement of money due by him. to pay or settle an account: to pay the amount therein shown to be due. account current: a continuous account in which sums paid and received are entered in detail. joint account: a transaction or speculation entered into by two parties not otherwise in partnership. In the general sense commonly in the plural, as, to keep accounts. to balance or square accounts with any one: to pay or receive the balance shown by a statement of account. Also b. One of the heads or subdivisions under which accounts are kept in a ledger, as a cash account, general goods account, bills receivable account, the profit and loss account, personal accounts, a suspense account. transf. (as n. pl.). The department of a firm or organization whose job is to deal with accounts. In full, accounts department.
c1300Life Of Beket 164 This child..Servede a burgeys of the toun, and his acountes wrot. c1386Chaucer Shipman's T. 87 Wolde no man schold him lette Of his accomptes. 1413Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle (1483) iv. xxxiv. 83 The Shirreue muste yeue rekkenynge soo that the ende of his offyce is acountes of money. 1523Fitzherbert Surveying (1539) xvii. 35 The accomptes of euery bayly or reue and other accomptance. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, i. i. 130 My Soueraigne Liege was in my debt, Vpon remainder of a deere Accompt. 1607― Timon ii. ii. 142 At many times I brought in my accompts, Laid them before you. a1618Raleigh Mahomet 42 Reckoning made without an hoste is subject to a reare accompt. 1636Healey Theophrastus' Characters xxiv. 84 If hee cleare an accompt with any, hee commands his boy to cast away the Compters. 1652Brome Joviall Crew i. 358 The ballance of the several Accompts, Which shews you what remains in Cash. 1682J. Scarlett Stile of Exch. 39 The account currant..should alwayes be clear and demonstrative, and show how the account stands with the Correspondent at all times. 1685R. Morden Geogr. Rectified 275 They keep their Accompts by Livers, Solds, and Deniers. 1719W. Wood Surv. Trade 88 The Commissioners of the Publick Accompts. 1727Arbuthnot Hist. John Bull (1755) 16 Bless me, what immense sums are at the bottom of the accompt! 1771Franklin Autobiog. Wks. 1840 I. 68, I attended the business diligently, studied accounts, and grew expert at selling. 1779Johnson L.P., Fenton Wks. 1787 III. 198 Detained him with her as the auditor of her accompts. 1823Scott Peveril II. ix. 195 The shot has balanced all accompts. 1839G. P. R. James Gentl. Old Sch. v. 51 You are running up a long account against us. 1841Macaulay W. Hastings (1851) I. 7 After two years passed in keeping accounts in Calcutta, Hastings went up the country. 1852Thackeray Esmond (1876) i. ix. 79 Besides writing my lord's letters, and arranging his accompts for him. 1853Lytton My Novel I. x. xx. 175 When you have squared your account with ‘delicacy,’ come to me. 1878Mrs. H. Wood Pomeroy Ab. ii. iii. 282 (Tauchn.) I told him I should take the accounts into my own hands. 1928L. Urwick et al. Organizing Sales Office 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. 1960L. F. Urwick Department Store 2 (Chart) Accounts. 1963‘J. le Carré’ Spy who came in from Cold xxiii. 197 We got Elsie in Accounts to help with the gossip. 1986Sunday Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 12 Jan. 34/4 On Mondays,..the books are ‘tapped off’, or checked over with one of the girls from accounts.
c. On Stock Exchange. The fortnightly or monthly settlement of transactions between buyers and sellers, or the transactions to be then settled. A sale for the account, as distinguished from a sale for cash, is an engagement on the part of the seller to deliver, and on the part of the buyer to receive and pay for the stock sold, at the ensuing settlement. account day, on the stock exchange, the last day of the account, on which stock is delivered and paid for and differences are paid; also called pay day.
1879Melsheimer & Laurence Lond. Stock Exch. 8 The account days for English and India stocks, &c...are always fixed at least five weeks beforehand. Ibid. 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. 1880Daily Tel. April 30 A large amount of business was done for the new account. 1928Morn. Post 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.
d. An arrangement to keep money in a bank, etc.; a sum of money so kept, a bank account; current account, deposit account, etc.: see under first element. Also, a credit arrangement with a firm, shop, etc.
1833H. Martineau Berkeley Banker i. i. 7 He waited in some impatience the opportunity of learning with what bank this great merchant meant to open an account. 1850Thackeray Pendennis xli. 351 Pen thought of opening an account with a banker. 1874Mrs. J. H. Riddell Mortomley's Est. II. ii. 24 To have an account at an old banking establishment. 1931C. L. Bolling Retail Management xiii. 275 Where customers ask for goods to be charged to credit accounts, 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. 1944W. S. Maugham Razor's Edge iv. 123 We know the manager of the bank in Chicago where Larry has his account. 1971A. Shaffer Sleuth i. 23 Cancelling the account at Harrods.
e. transf. A customer or client having an account with a firm. Chiefly U.S.
1937Time 8 Mar. 83/1 Adding to the impressive list of Erickson accounts such majors as the Standard Oil group, California Packing, Zonite, Beech-Nut. 1962H. O. Beecheno Introd. Business Stud. x. 90 Advertising agencies refer to each of their clients as an ‘account’. 1985Church Times 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.
3. in account with: in business relations requiring the keeping of an account with. to place or pass to account: to debit or credit a person's account with an amount. for account of: to be sold or realized for, to be accounted for to.
1647J. Saltmarsh Sparkles of Glory (1847) 109 I left my adversary still upon some account with me. 1678Lestrange Seneca's Morals 4 (1702) For there are, that reckon it an Obligation..and place it to Accompt. 1690Locke Hum. Unders. (ed. 3) iii. x. 279 A man in his Accompts with another. 1711Steele Spectator No. 87. ⁋2 Beauty is thrown in to the accompt in matters of sale. 1732Law Serious Call (ed. 2) i. 12 Placed to her account at the last day. 1823Scott Quentin D. (1871) xxviii. 365 Oh! do not reckon that old debt to my account. 1826T. Tooke Currency 102 A very considerable proportion are shipped for account of the manufacturers. 1882Daily Tel. 4 May, A large portion of the gold recently advised as having been shipped from Australia has been landed at Galle for Indian account.
4. a. on account: as an item to be accounted for at the final settlement, in anticipation of or as a contribution to final payment, as an interim payment on account of something in process. on one's account: so that it shall be charged or entered to his account; in his behalf and at his expense. on one's own account: for one's own interest, and at one's own risk.
1611Bible Philemon 18 If hee oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. 1678Butler Hudibras iii. ii. 1158 Resolution Charg'd on th' account of Persecution. 1691Petty Polit. Arith. x. 114 All Commodities, bought and sold upon the accompt of that Universal Trade. 1698Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 333 The summ of {pstlg}250,000 be allowed upon account towards defraying the charge of disbanding the private troopers. 1801Jane Austen Let. 14 Jan. (1952) 109 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. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey v. vi. 199 Shall I throw down a couple of Napoleons on joint account? 1852McCulloch Taxation (ed. 2) iii. i. 420 Going into the money-market and borrowing 1000l. on his account. 1853Lytton My Novel I. iii. xiii. 129 [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. 1855Prescott Philip II (1857) I. i. vii. 124 The sum offered by the constable on his own account and that of his son. 1879J. Grant in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 62/2 He started in business on his own account.
b. Hence, upon (obs. since 1750), on account of: (a) In consideration of, for the sake of, by reason of, because of.
1647J. Saltmarsh Sparkles of Glory (1847) 86 Upon this account those offices have been thought ordinary which were upon the mere and pure account of the Holy Ghost. 1652M. Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 82 The Customs out of this Sea were very great, onely upon the accompt of Fishing. 1694Lestrange Fables No. 444 (ed. 6) 481 She'll never Trouble herself farther upon any Accompt of mine. 1727Swift Gulliver iii. iv. 199, I was far their inferior, and upon that account very little regarded. 1759Robertson Hist. Scot. I. vi. 400 On many accounts she did not think it prudent. 1792Burke in Corr. (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. 1832H. Martineau Demerara i. 10 He keeps at home now, on account of his great age.
† (b) In the matter of, with regard to, concerning. Obs.
1657Cromwell Lett. & Sp. (Carl.) IV. 270 The arguments were upon these three accounts. 1657Austen Fruit Trees i. 5 Men are generally mistaken upon this accompt. 1679Penn Address to Prot. (1692) ii. iv. 123 He hath said so well on this Account, that there is little need I should say any more. 1743N. Appleton Serm. 34 Should he be never so poor and low upon outward Accounts. 1749Fielding Tom Jones (1840) xiii. iv. 190 I am satisfied on the account of my cousin.
(c) on account; account of: ellipt. for ‘on account of (the fact that)’. slang.
1936E. Waugh Mr. Loveday's Outing 44 The purser who's different on account he leads a very cynical life. 1936Wodehouse Laughing Gas xi. 117, I was feeling kind of down, on account that tooth of mine was giving me the devil. 1942Horizon July 62 Fred's five foot ten..but I tell him he's still a shrimp, account of I'm so tall. 1948E. Waugh Loved One 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.
(d) on no account, certainly not, in no circumstances.
1855Prescott Philip II (1857) I. ii. vii. 280 He recommends the king on no account to remove Granvelle from the administration. 1918B. Webb Diary 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. 1945E. Waugh Brideshead Revisited i. i. 23 Three hundred a year; on no account give him more. 1969J. Orton What Butler Saw i. 24 She's under strong sedation and on no account to be disturbed. 1973E. F. Schumacher Small is Beautiful i. ii. 31 If a man can normally earn, say, $5000 a year, the average cost of establishing his workplace should on no account be in excess of $5000.
5. A reckoning in one's favour; interest, profit, advantage: esp. in find one's account in; turn it to one's account.
1611Bible Phil. iv. 17 I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 1701Swift Wks. 1755 II. i. 34 Wherein they expected best to find their own account. 1727― Modest Prop. II. ii. 61 They will not yield above three pounds..which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom. 1788Priestley Lect. on Hist. v. lxvi. 545 Gaul manifestly found its account in being conquered by the Romans. 1832H. Martineau Hill and Valley iv. 52 A kind, too, which cannot be turned to any other account. 1860Thoreau Lett. 192 (1865) However, he found his account in it as well as I. 1863Cowden Clarke Shaks. Char. ii. 286 To make the best account of everything they encounter. 1878R. B. Smith Carthage 329 But the inactivity which was forced upon him..he turned to good account.
6. The preparing or making up a statement of money transactions.
1646Recorde etc. Ground of Arts 258 Now for the Accompt of Auditors, take this example. 1781Gibbon Decline & Fall II. 55 The actual account employed several hundred persons. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) II. xi. 377 Hence the bill appointing commissioners of public account.
III. The rendering of a reckoning.
7. A particular statement of the administration of money in trust: esp. in phrases; To give, yield, or render an account; to ask an account; to call or bring to account.
1513Ld. Dacre in Ellis Orig. Letters i. 34. I. 97 Alwey I shall be redy to gif accompt of the same at your pleasure. 1528Perkins Profitable Bk. (1642) viii. §504. 221 The ordinary cannot demand accompt for them. 1535Coverdale Luke xvi. 2 Geue accompte of thy stewardshipe. c1538Starkey England ii. ii. (1871) 186 To make a rekenyng and count before a juge. 1603in Shaksp. Cent. Praise 103 The Accompte of the right honourable the Lord Stanhope of Harrington for all such somes of money as have beine receaved and paied. 1653Holcroft Procopius iii. 76 Calling the Italians to accompt, who never toucht the Emperour monies. 1738Hist. View of Crt. Excheq. ii. 18 The Sheriff was upon his Account, and shewed the Book of the Clerk of the Pells in his Discharge. 1866Mrs. Gaskell Wives & Dau. (Tauchn.) I. xvii. 285 The money for which he will give no account.
8. Hence
a. A statement as to the discharge of responsibilities generally; answering for conduct.
c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 3986 Þe Acunt and þe rekennyng Þat þai sal yheld of alle þair lyfyng. Ibid. 5613 Alle þat sal com byfor Crist þat day, Sal strayt acounte yhelde. a1450Knight de la Tour 59 Of the which God wille axse hem acompte at the dredfulle day. 1563Homilies ii. xv. ii. (1640) 204 Let us call ourselves to an accompt. 1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. on Tim. 116/1 Will not God aske vs an accompt? 1599Shakes. Much Ado iv. i. 338 Claudio shall render me a deere account. 1601Barlow Serm. at Paules Crosse Pref. 1 Heaven is not liable to any accompt. 1654E. Johnson Wonder-working Prov. 183 Being questioned how he came by it, could give no good accompt. 1732Law Serious Call (ed. 2) ii. 21 Whether we shall be call'd to account at the last day. 1824Scott St. Ronan's (1868) xiii. 643 Obliged to bring somebody or other to account for the general credit of the Well. 1876Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 89 Theobald of Chartres was also called to account.
b. The final account at the judgment-seat of God, on the ‘great day of accounts.’
1743J. Morris Serm. ii. 52 In this awful account they, who are set on the left hand, are supposed to believe in Christ. 1822S. Rogers Italy (1852) 107 Many a transgressor sent to his account. 1848Marryat Childr. N. Forest (Tauchn.) xx. 248 He has gone to his account! God forgive him.
c. to give account of: to give an explanation, account for.
1775Johnson Lett. No. 126 (1788) I. 274, I am so much disordered by indigestion, of which I can give no account, that it is difficult to write more.
d. to give a good account of: to be successful with; do his duty by.
1617F. Moryson Itinerary ii. ii. i. 109 We doe hope to giue her Maiestie a very good account of her Kingdome, and of our selues, vntill wee shall haue cause to sue for more reliefe. 1684Scanderbeg Redivivus iv. 81 Offering that with an Army of 60 thousand..he did not doubt but to give a good account of this Summers Campaign. 1779J. Wesley Jrnl. 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. 1809B. H. Malkin tr. Lesage's Gil Blas I. i. ii. 24 Those said eggs of which he had given so good an account. 1883R. L. Stevenson Treas. Isl. xvi. 133 We flattered ourselves we should be able to give a good account of a half-dozen [sc. mutineers] at least. 1928Daily Mail 7 Aug. 8/3 They are likely to give a very good account of themselves in the big fight.
†9. In the prec. sense the pl. accounts was formerly used collectively, or as a singular.
a. of money.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. (1495) vi. xvii. 202 Wyse and waar and cunnynge to ȝeue acomptes and rekenynge. 1461Paston Lett. No. 395. II. 19 That I may have xxti li, I xall ȝeve ȝow acompts ther of. 1591Lambarde Archeion (1635) 30 He talketh of Accompts to be made to the King there. 1611Bible Dan. vi. 2 That the Princes might giue accompts vnto them, and the King should haue no damage. 1704Col. Records Penn XI. 128 And return accompts thereof. 1762Goldsmith Nash 14 To giue in his accompts to the masters of the temple.
b. of responsibility or conduct.
c1260A Sarmun 24 in E.E.P. 3 Ȝe sulle we ȝiue acuntis Of al þat we habbiþ ibe here. c1300Seyn Julian (Ashm.) 98 Biuore our maister wende, Oure acountes uorte yelde. c1460How a Marchande &c. 248 in E.P.P. (1864) 207 I wyll neuyr aske yow accowntys. 1526Tindale Matt. xviii. 23 They shall geve acountes at the daye off judgement. 1549Coverdale Paraph. Erasm. on Hebrues 6 Unto whom we must geue an accomptes of our lyfe. 1549Latimer 7 Serm. bef. Edw. VI (1869) 50 Before whom thou shalt appere one day to rendre a strayght accomptes, for the dedes done in thy flesh. 1564Becon Gen. Pref. Wks. 1843, 25 We shall render an accompts for the lives of them all.
c. to hand in one's accounts, to die. U.S.
1873Aldrich Marj. Daw 150 The hotel remains to-day pretty much the same as when Jonathan Bayley handed in his accounts in 1840.
10. Law. A writ or action against a bailiff or receiver, or others, who, by reason of their offices or business, are to render accompt but refuse to do it. Tomlins Law Dict. 1809.
1622Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 468 The trial of an Action of Account at the common-law is tedious. 1641Termes de la Ley Acompt is a Writ, and it lyeth where a Bayliffe or a receiver to any Lord or other man, which ought to render accompt, will not giue his account. 1809Tomlins Law Dict. s.v. 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.
IV. Estimation, consideration.
11. Estimation, consideration, esteem, worth, importance in the eyes of others; esp. in the phrases: a person or thing of some account; to be held in some account.
1393Gower Conf. I. 217 That he his fader in disdeigne Hath take and sette at none accompte. 1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed's Chron. III. 1375/1 To view Sussex and the havens, and as he thought, to tast the best of account there. 1598B. Jonson Ev. Man in his Hum. i. i. 11 A Scholler..of good accompt, in both our Universities. 1599Greene Alphonsus 44 (1861) 244 Rich Pactolus, that river of account. 1613Purchas Pilg. (1864) 3 Wild goats, whose hornes are in account against venome. 1645E. Pagitt Heresiogr (1662) 208 More ancient and of so special accompt. 1667Primatt City and Country Builder 3 Decent Houses made for the dwelling of gentry or citizens of accompt. 1680W. Allen Peace & Unity 11 To appear considerable in the account of others. 1681Dryden Abs. & Ach. i. 628 Moses' laws he held in more account, For forty days of fasting in the mount. 1767Fordyce Serm. to Y. Wom. I. iii. 95 Are all these of no account? 1876Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xviii. 222 The town of Huntingdon was, then as now, one of much less account than Cambridge.
12. to make account of: to hold in estimation, regard as important; to value, esteem.
1393Gower Conf. III. 267 A leon in his rage, Which of no drede set accompt. 1490Caxton Eneydos xvi. 62 Therof she made none acompte. 1578Lyte Dodoens 735 This kind of Nut is a wild fruite, whereof men make none accompt. 1580North Plutarch (1676) 4 She was not a beast to be made light account of. 1611Bible Ps. cxliv. 3 Or the sonne of man, that thou makest account of him? 1616Surflet & Markh. Country Farme 581 At Rome this kind of bread is made no account of. 1855Prescott Philip II (1857) ii. vii. 276 They were indignant that so little account should be made of their representations. 1860Dickens Uncomm. Trav. (1866) vi. 37/1 Of the page I make no account, for he is a boy. 1866Mrs. Gaskell Wives & Dau. (Tauchn.) I. xviii. 329 The little account she made of her own beauty pleased Mr. Gibson.
†13. Reckoning, estimate, consideration, thought. esp. in phrase to make account (that, to do): to reckon, calculate, resolve, expect. Obs.
1583Golding Calvin's Deut. xix. 110 Wee haue made our Account to rest simply vppon his Word. 1586G. Whitney in Farr S.P. (1845) I. 206 And make accompte that honor to be theires. 1600Holland Livy xli. xix. 1108 h, Making full account [haud dubie], that the next day the enemies would yield. 1611Bible 1 Macc. vi. 9 He made account that he should die. 1623Bingham Xenophon 41 Wife and Children, which he made account neuer to see again. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts 52 That yee may know where to make account of my presence. 1642Howell For. Trav. 37 Make accoump for matters of fertility of soyle. 1662H. More Antid. agt. Ath. (1712) Pref. Gen. 5, I make account I began then to adorn my Function. 1697Patrick On Exodus i. 17 They made account the things of God were to be preferr'd before those of Men. 1729Burkitt On N.T., Mark vi. 35 No pastors in the sight of God and in the account of Christ. 1784Cowper Task iv. 356 Oh happy! and in my account, denied That sensibility of pain.
14. to take into account, take account of: to take into consideration as an existing element, to notice; so, to leave out of account.
1681J. Chetham Angler's Vade-mecum xl. §30 (1689) 304 Some Rivulets are taken into the accompt 1844Ld. Brougham Alb. Lunel (1872) I will..take the royal training into my account. 1868Kingsley Heroes iv. 129 Do you take no account of my rule? 1871Smiles Character (1876) i. 25 It is not great men only that have to be taken into account. 1880Gen. Adye in 19th Cent. No. 38. 702 Any system must be bad which leaves out of account the first principle of regimental efficiency.
15. to lay one's account with (on, for): to reckon upon, anticipate, expect. (orig. Sc.)
1746Rep. on Cond. Sir J. Cope 189 These are fixed Resolutions, on which your Royal Highness may lay your account. 1748Smollett Rod. Rand. (1812) I. 176 I must lay my account with such interruption every morning. 1799Dundas in Wellesley Desp. 644 We must lay our account with being at all times obstructed in our views. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. v. 233 The jurors must have laid their account with appearing before the star-chamber. 1844Ld. Brougham Alb. Lunel (1872) II. v. 167 You may lay your account with increasing rather than stemming the mischief. 1845Hamilton Pop. Educ. (ed. 2) ii. 17 We as Christians need not lay our account for any other state of society. 1852McCulloch Taxation iii. ii. 456 (ed. 2) We may lay our account with being again involved in war.
V. Narration, relation.
16. A particular statement or narrative of an event or thing; a relation, report, or description. phr. by all accounts.
1614Raleigh Hist. World iii. 5 To this accompt agreeing with the Scriptures..I have sometimes subscribed. 1633Campion Hist. Ireland Ep. Ded. ii. 1 An accompt of my poore voyage. 1715Steele Addison's Drummer Pref., Having recommended this Play..I feel myself obliged to give some Account of it. 1762Goldsmith Cit. W. (1837) cxix. 464 Though I gave a very long account, the justice said, I could give no account of myself. 1792Anec. W. Pitt I. ii. 29, A dark, confused, and scarcely intelligible accompt. 1793Smeaton Edystone Lightho. §313 Edwards gave account that they lighted the house, as they were directed. 1798E. Inchbald Lovers' Vows (ed. 3) ii. i, By all accounts the Baroness was very haughty. 1804Jane Austen Watsons (1879) 335 Begin and give me an account of everything as it happened. 1825J. Neal Bro. Jonathan I. i. 10 [She was] the prettiest one, though, ‘by all accounts’. 1860Dickens Uncomm. Trav. (1866) v. 31/2 When he heard of talent, trusted nobody's account of it. 1872Freeman Hist. Ess. (ed. 2) 14 The whole Norman account of Godwine is one of the best specimens of the growth of legend.
b. An interpretation or rendering of a piece of music.
1961in Webster. 1963Listener 28 Mar. 571/1 The best things in his five concerts were his noble account of Mendelssohn's Ruy Blas Overture [etc.]. 1969Ibid. 31 July 161/2 These performances are backed by another gramophone ‘classic’: Lisa Della Casa's account of Strauss's Four Last Songs. 1983Classical Music Nov. 21/4 Roger Norrington conducted a fizzing account of Offenbach's score.
17. attrib. and Comb. account-book, a book prepared for the keeping of accounts. account day, day of reckoning. account(s) executive, in an advertising agency: one whose job is to manage the interests of particular clients. account sales, a detailed account of the sale of a parcel or cargo of goods.
1699Bentley Phalaris 535 He represents the Account-Book of some of the wealthy Men of that Age. 1838Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. iii. 124 My Teachers were hide-bound Pedants, without knowledge of man's nature or of boy's; or of aught save their lexicons and quarterly account-books. 1853Lytton My Novel II. viii. xii. 51 Never kept the money; and never looked into the account books! 1860Froude Hist. Eng. 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. 1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong., Dresseur de compte, an accompte caster. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. ii. viii. 83 Now the account day has come. 1931F. B. Lane Advertising Admin. xii. 141 The accounts executive..is usually an executive member of the agency organization and a widely-experienced advertising man. 1962H. O. Beecheno Introd. Business Stud. x. 90 An Account Director or Account Executive is the administrative officer who looks after particular clients' interests. 1986Daily Tel. 20 Jan. 6/5 Account executives are the co-ordinating link with the client.
☛Phrase-key. Balance a 2, bring to a 7, call to a 7, cast a 1, close a 2, a current 2, find a in 5, for a of 3, for the a 2 c, give a of 8 c, d, hold in a 11, in a with 3, joint a 2, keep a 2, lay a with 15, leave out of a 14, make a of, that 12, 13, of a 11, on a 4, open a 2, pass, place to a 3, render a 2, 7, settle a 2, square a 2, take into a, take a of 14, turn to a 5, upon a 4.
▪ III. † aˈccount, pple. Obs.
Also accompte.
[Contr. for accounted account'd, as lit for lighted.]
= accounted.
1548Cranmer Catechismus 100 b, Yet verely (all thynges accompte) theyr losse is greater then theyr gaynes. 1608Shakes. Per. i. i. 30 Was with long use account'd [Globe ed. account] no sin. |