accommodate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈkɒməˌdeɪt/; /əˈkɑməˌdeɪt/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin accommodātus, past participle of accommodāre, to make fit, adapt, fit one thing to another,^[2][3][4][5] from ad-, to, and commodāre, to make fit, from commodus, proper, fit, convenient (see commode, commodious),^[2][3][6] from com-, intensive, and modus, measure (from Proto-Indo-European *med-).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a participial adjective, suited, fitting: 1525, Wolsey quoted by Strype;^[2][7] as a verb, to apply fittingly, 1531, in Elyot's Governour.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

To adapt or adjust one thing to another is from 1588,^[7] and to reconcile differing things or people from 1597.^[7] Through the idea of finding something to fit a person's needs, the sense to provide with lodging developed by the late 16th century.^[6] To do a favour for, oblige, is a later sense,^[8][9] as is to hold without crowding.^[8][9] Of the eye, to adjust its focus, is also recorded.^[8] Accommodation is from 1611.^[2]

Timeline

• 1525 – suited (adjective).^[7]
• 1531 – to apply fittingly.^[2]
• 1588 – to adapt.^[7]
• 1597 – to reconcile.^[7]
• late 16th century – to lodge.^[6]
• 1611 – accommodation.^[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To provide with lodging or room.
2. To have room for; to hold comfortably.
3. To do a favour or service for; to oblige.
4. To adapt or adjust to; to allow for.
5. To reconcile or settle differences.

Word family

• accommodative
• accommodativeness
• accommodator
• accommodable
• unaccommodated
• accommodation
• accommodationist
• reaccommodate

Related words

• commode
• commodious
• commodity
• mode

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
9. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins