accept English · revision 2772

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1360|origins=la capiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əkˈsept/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|accepten|t=to receive graciously, approve of, judge worthy]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|accepter]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) or directly [[bor|la|acceptāre|t=to take or receive willingly]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the frequentative of [[m|la|accipere|t=to receive]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|ad|t=to]] and [[m|la|capere|t=to take]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*kap-|t=to grasp]].^(Etymonline) Barnhart prefers the Latin source and notes that the Old French verb may be a parallel borrowing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To take something offered willingly: about 1380 in the OED, in Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales'',^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The phrase ''accept the person of'', “to show favour to”, is from about 1360.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To receive as adequate, and so to admit, agree to or believe, is from 1530,^(OED 1989) and to take formally with its obligations, as an office or a bill of exchange, from 1524.^(OED 1989) In the 16th century the verb was often followed by ''of'' (''accept of'').^(OED 1989) ''Acceptable'' is from about 1384, in the Wycliffe Bible,^(Barnhart 1988) ''acceptance'' from the 16th century and ''acceptation'' from the 15th.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1360 – ''accept the person of''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – to take something offered.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1384 – ''acceptable''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1524 – to accept formally.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – to agree to, believe.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take something offered, especially gladly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To say yes to an offer or invitation; to [[consent]] to.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To regard as true, proper or normal; to believe.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To endure patiently; to resign oneself to.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To admit to a group or place.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To agree to pay a [[bill of exchange]] or [[draft]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[acceptingly]]

+ * [[acceptingness]]

+ * [[acceptee]]

+ * [[preaccept]]

+ * [[reaccept]]

+ * [[accepted]]

+ * [[accepter]]

+ * [[acceptive]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[acceptable]]

+ * [[acceptance]]

+ * [[acceptancy]]

+ * [[acceptant]]

+ * [[acceptation]]

+ * [[acceptor]]

+ * [[capture]]

+ * [[receive]]

+ * [[except]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}