Etymologically
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accedo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [akˈkeː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [atˈt͡ʃɛː.do][1]

Forms

accēdō (present infinitive accēdere, perfect active accessī, supine accessum); third conjugation, no passive[1]

Etymology

It is from ad- (“to”) and cēdō “to go”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of approaching.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to come near, approach, reach a person or place, as Cicero's approaching someone and Caesar's the camp, and to enter.[2][5] It meant to resort to someone, to advance against an enemy, as in Ennius, of rivers and roads to approach, and of weapons to reach.[2] It meant to come to a subject, to join a group or alliance, to agree or assent, as in Quintilian, to take up a task, and to succeed to a position.[2] It meant to come near in quality, age or kinship, as in Cicero, of conditions to set in, as in Cato, and of times to draw near.[2] It also meant to be added, accrue, as in Plautus, and impersonally accēdit quod “there is the further fact that”.[2] Virgil has the syncopated accēstis.[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to approach, accede, approve.[7] It survives in French accéder and Spanish acceder.[1] English accede came in the early 15th century, and English access from its noun accessus.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of approaching and being added.[2][4]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of advancing forces.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of approaching and of coming near in quality.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English accede is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To approach, come near; to enter.[2]
  2. To advance (against an enemy).[2]
  3. To come (to a subject).[2]
  4. To join; to agree, assent.[2]
  5. To take up (a task); to succeed (to).[2]
  6. To come near (in quality, age).[2]
  7. (of conditions) To set in, (of times) to draw near.[2]
  8. To be added, accēdit quod, besides.[2]

Word family

  • accedentia
  • accessibilis
  • accessiō
  • accessitō
  • accessus
  • inaccessus
  • accessa
  • accēdenter
  • arcessō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson