Etymologically
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accomplishment

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Pronunciation

  • UK: /əˈkɒm.plɪʃ.mənt/, /əˈkʌm.plɪʃ.mənt/[1]
  • US: /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ.mənt/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English accomplisshement,[2] borrowed from Anglo-Norman accomplissement (“fulfilment, completion”), also acomplicement, and accomplissement,[3][4][2] formed from acompliss-, the lengthened stem of acomplir (“to fulfil, carry out”) (the source of accomplish), and -ment.[3][5] The Shorter Oxford instead treats it as formed within English accomplish and -ment, after the French noun.[6] The French verb comes from Vulgar Latin *accompleō, from ad- (“to”) and compleō (“to fill up”),[4][2][7] formed from com- and a verb meaning to fill, from Proto-Indo-European *pele- (“to fill”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The fact of accomplishing something; fulfilment, completion: 1425, in the records of the Privy Council.[3][2] In French the noun meant completion from 1284, and in Anglo-Norman fulfilment from 1318–19.[3][8]

Semantic evolution

From the 16th century the word could mean something accomplished, a feat (1578),[3][4] and perfection, the state of being complete (1540, obsolete by 1709).[3][6] From that idea of completion came its use for something that perfects a person: an acquired skill or social grace that fits one for polite society, recorded from 1586;[3][4] the OED notes that this sense has no parallel in French.[3] Johnson (1755) defined it as completion, the fulfilment of a prophecy, and "embellishment, elegance, ornament of mind or body".[9] For a time it could also mean an ornament or accoutrement (1605–1702).[3][6]

Timeline

  • 1425 – fulfilment, completion; achievement.[3][2]
  • 1540 – perfection (now obsolete).[3]
  • 1578 – a feat, an achievement.[3]
  • 1586 – an acquired skill, especially a social grace.[3]
  • 1605 – an ornament or accoutrement (obsolete by 1702).[3]
  • 1652 – skill or ability, as a mass noun.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Something done successfully; an achievement or feat: Finishing the marathon was her proudest accomplishment.[10][5][3]
  2. The act of carrying something out or completing it; fulfilment.[10][5][3]
  3. An acquired skill or talent, especially a social one.[10][5][3]
  4. (obsolete) The act of making perfect, or perfection.[5][3][6]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (online 2024), 5th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  8. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  9. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
  10. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins