account English · revision 3538

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la computāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|acount]] (also [[m|enm|accompt]]), [[bor|xno|acunte]] and [[m|fro|acont|t=account, reckoning]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the verb [[m|fro|aconter|t=to reckon, render account]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) formed from [[m|fro|a|t=to]] and [[m|fro|conter|t=to count]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|computāre|t=to count, sum up]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) The verb is [[inh|enm|acounten]], from Old French ''aconter''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[count]] and [[compute]].^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Counting, especially a reckoning of money received and paid: about 1300.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to count, enumerate”, is from about 1300^(Etymonline) or 1303.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start the noun was often plural.^(Etymonline) The sense “answering for one's conduct”, especially at the Last Judgment, is from about 1300,^(Etymonline) and the verb “to explain, justify” from the same time.^(Etymonline) “Estimation, consideration” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) or the 14th according to Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) A course of business dealings is from the 1640s, and an arrangement to keep money in a bank from 1833.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A narration or recital of facts is by the 1610s.^(Etymonline) ''On no account'' is from 1704,^(Etymonline) and ''on account'' in the financial sense from 1611.^(OED 1989) A customer with an account at a firm is from 1937.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Klein notes that modern French distinguishes ''compter'', “to count”, from ''conter'', “to tell”.^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – counting, reckoning; verb, to count.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – answering for one's conduct.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – estimation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1610s – a narration.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1611 – ''on account''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640s – a course of business dealings.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1704 – ''on no account''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1833 – a bank account.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1937 – a client.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[narrative]] or record of events.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An explanation given for an action.^(AHD)

+ # A formal arrangement with a bank or business for regular dealings; money held in one.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A list or statement of financial transactions.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A client or customer.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Worth or importance: ''of no account''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To consider as being; to [[deem]].^(AHD)

+ # ''(account for)'' To explain or justify; to make up a share of.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accountancy]]

+ * [[subaccount]]

+ * [[no-account]]

+ * [[unaccounted]]

+ * [[account book]]

+ * [[account executive]]

+ * [[account payable]]

+ * [[account receivable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accountable]]

+ * [[accountant]]

+ * [[count]]

+ * [[compute]]

+ * [[raconteur]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}