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ac·count

(ə-kount)

1. A narrative or record of events.

a. A reason given for a particular action or event: What is the account for this loss?

b. A report relating to one's conduct: gave a satisfactory account of herself.

c. A basis or ground: no reason to worry on that account.

a. A formal banking, brokerage, or business relationship established to provide for regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions.

b. A precise list or enumeration of financial transactions.

c. A sum of money deposited for checking, savings, or brokerage use.

d. A customer having a business or credit relationship with a firm: salespeople visiting their accounts.

4. A private access to a computer system or online service, usually requiring a password to enter.

5. Worth, standing, or importance: a landowner of some account.

6. Profit or advantage: turned her writing skills to good account.

tr.v. ac·count·ed, ac·count·ing, ac·counts

To consider as being; deem. See Synonyms at consider. See Usage Note at as¹.

Phrasal Verb:

account for

1. To constitute the governing or primary factor in: Bad weather accounted for the long delay.

2. To provide an explanation or justification for: The suspect couldn't account for his time that night.

Idioms:

call to account

1. To challenge or contest.

2. To hold answerable for.

on account

On credit.

on account of

Because of; for the sake of: "We got married on account of the baby" (Anne Tyler).

on no account

Under no circumstances.

on (one's) own account

1. For oneself.

2. On one's own; by oneself: He wants to work on his own account.

on (someone's) account

For someone's benefit: It's nice of you to make such an effort on his account.

take into account

To take into consideration; allow for.

[Middle English, from Old French acont, from aconter, to reckon : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see AD-) + cunter, to count (from Latin computāre, to sum up; see COMPUTE).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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