accord English · revision 39476

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late Old English, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Laud), annal for 1120|origins=la cor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /əˈkɔːd/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /əˈkoɹd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|accorden]], late Old English [[m|ang|acordan]],^(Dictionary.com 2016)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|acorder|t=to reconcile, agree]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) also [[m|xno|acorder]],^(MWU 2024)^(AND) from [[la-vul|*accordō|t=to bring into agreement]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) The Vulgar Latin verb was made from [[m|la|ad-|t=to]] and [[m|la|cor|t=heart]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline) on the pattern of [[m|la|concordō|t=to agree]] and [[m|la|discordō|t=to disagree]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) so that it meant literally "heart to heart".^(Ayto 2005)^(Etymonline) Weekley instead derived it from [[m|la|chorda|t=a harp string]], influenced in sense by the word for heart.^(Weekley 1921) The Latin noun goes back to [[ine-pro|*ḱerd-|t=heart]].^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline) The noun is [[m|enm|acord]], from [[m|fro|acort]], a noun formed from the French verb.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to reconcile people in conflict, and to agree with someone: both in the Laud manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in the annal for 1120.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) Barnhart dates the verb to before 1121, Ayto to 1123.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Ayto 2005) The noun, agreement or harmony between people, appears about 1275, in ''The Owl and the Nightingale''.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Anglo-Norman the verb was already used of reconciling people and of tuning voices or instruments together.^(OED 2026)^(AND) In Middle English it soon covered agreeing on a matter, granting a request (c. 1180) and things being in harmony with each other (1340).^(OED 2026) The noun likewise came to mean a formal agreement or treaty (c. 1300), harmony in music (a1387) and consent (a1393).^(OED 2026) The phrase ''of one's own accord'', voluntarily, is recorded from the mid 15th century, earlier also with ''by''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)^(Weekley 1921) In law, ''accord'' from 1579 meant an agreement to accept something in place of a right of action, later in ''accord and satisfaction''.^(OED 2026) Barnhart notes that the spelling with double ''c'' became fixed in the 15th century.^(Barnhart 1988) In the 19th century the word gave ''accordion'' (1829).^(Weekley 1921) In Scots and in Worcestershire and Herefordshire dialect, ''accord'' kept the plain sense "to agree".^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1120 – verb, to reconcile; to agree (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1180 – verb, to grant or bestow.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1275 – noun, agreement between people, and ''with one accord''.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1300 – noun, a formal agreement or treaty.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1340 – verb, of things, to be in harmony.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1387 – noun, musical harmony.^(OED 2026)

+ * mid 15th century – ''of one's own accord''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)

+ * 1579 – (law) an agreement in settlement of a claim.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give or [[grant]] something, especially status, respect or a right: ''The visitors were accorded a warm welcome.''^(Collins 2023)^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To be in [[harmony]] or agreement; to correspond, usually followed by ''with''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (archaic) To bring into agreement; to [[reconcile]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Agreement or harmony of opinion, will or action; [[conformity]], especially in the phrase ''in accord with''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # An official agreement or [[treaty]], especially between countries.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # ''of one's own accord'': voluntarily, without being asked.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # ''with one accord'': all together, unanimously.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (law) An agreement to accept something in settlement of a claim, in ''accord and satisfaction''.^(OED 2026)

+ # (music) A pleasing combination of sounds; harmony.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accordable]]

+ * [[accorder]]

+ * [[accordant]]

+ * [[accordance]]

+ * [[according]]

+ * [[accordingly]]

+ * [[unaccorded]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chord]]

+ * [[concord]]

+ * [[discord]]

+ * [[accordion]]

+ * [[cordial]]

+ * [[heart]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}