Etymologically
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accordance

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /əˈkɔː.dəns/ (UK); /əˈkoɹ.dəns/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English acordance, acordaunce, borrowed from Old French acordance (“agreement, reconciliation, harmony”),[2][3][4] from acorder, to bring to agreement (see accord).[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Agreement, harmony: 1303 in the OED;[5] compliance, about 1300, in Etymonline.[2]

Semantic evolution

Of things, conformity or compatibility is from the late 14th century.[2] The phrase in accordance with is attested by 1793 in Etymonline and 1806–31 in the OED;[2][5] in Middle English in accordance of was the usual form.[2] The act of granting is from 1881.[5]

Timeline

  • 1303 – agreement.[5]
  • late 14th century – conformity.[2]
  • 1793 – in accordance with.[2]
  • 1881 – the act of granting.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Agreement or conformity, especially in the phrase “in accordance with”.
  2. The act of granting: the accordance of rights.
  • accord
  • according
  • accordingly
  • concord
  • discord
  • cordial

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press