# accessory

> English word · Adjective · IPA /əkˈsɛs.(ə.)ɹi/ · frequency rank #12,354

## Definitions
1. Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; contributing or being contributory.
2. Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal.
3. Present in a minor amount, and not essential.
4. Supernumerary and generally nonfunctional.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Italic *ad
Proto-Italic *ad-
Medieval Latin ad-
Proto-Italic *kezdō
Medieval Latin cēdō
Medieval Latin accēdō
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Medieval Latin -tor
Medieval Latin accessor
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Proto-Italic *-ios
Old Latin -ios
Medieval Latin -ius
Medieval Latin accessōriusbor.
English accessory
From Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root.

## Common misspellings (10)
`accesory`, `accesosry`, `accessorry`, `accessoryy`, `accessoyr`, `accessroy`, `accsesory`, `acecssory`, `acessory`, `cacessory`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/accessory