accessus

Forms

accessus m (genitive accessūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from accēdō “to approach” with the suffix of action nouns -tus.^[2][1][3] It is also spelled ⟨adcessus⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Varro, of a way in, and Cicero, of approach.^[2] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant approach, arrival, visit, as Cicero's night approach to the city, of heavenly bodies, and of the tide flowing in, as opposed to recessus.^[2][5][6] In Cicero it also meant an approach to a task, a right of audience, and in Seneca a method of attack.^[2] From Varro it meant a way in, access, and in Vitruvius a boarding bridge.^[2] In Pliny the Elder it meant the onset of fever, and an addition.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant approach, access, increase, inspection.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for an appurtenance, and British Medieval Latin for the flood tide and an attack.^[8][9] Old French acces gave English access in the early 14th century, first “an attack of fever”, and Late Latin accessibilis gave English accessible.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a way in.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of approach and of the tide.^[2][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the onset of fever.^[2][4]
• early 14th century – English access is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Approach, arrival; the flowing in of the tide.^[2]
2. An attack.^[2]
3. A right of audience.^[2]
4. A way in, access; a boarding bridge.^[2]
5. The onset of fever.^[2]
6. An addition.^[2]

Related words

• accēdō
• English access
• English accessible

References

1. ^ a b c 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 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press