accessory

Where does the word "accessory" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin accessorius, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Accessory’s story begins in Medieval Latin: accessorius meant “additional, supplementary.” Additional, supplementary, from accedere (to approach, to be added to). It reached English by 1400s as accessory. Settled as the English word for a supplementary item, or one who aids a crime. Today, accessory means an item that complements a main item, or a person who assists in a crime.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval accessorius "additional, supplementary", additional, supplementary, from accedere (to approach, to be added to).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s accessory "a supplementary item, or one who assists in a crime", settled as the English word for a supplementary item, or one who aids a crime.