accessory Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing
accouterment; accoutrement.
noun a supplementary component that improves capability
add-on; supplement; appurtenance.
noun someone who helps another person commit a crime
accessary.
adjective satellite aiding and abetting in a crime
accessary.
- he was charged with being accessory to the crime
adjective satellite furnishing added support
auxiliary; adjunct; adjuvant; ancillary; appurtenant.
- an ancillary pump
- an adjuvant discipline to forms of mysticism
- The mind and emotions are auxiliary to each other

L. accessorius. See Access, and cf. Accessary.

Accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; additional; connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or contributory; said of persons and things, and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot; accessory sounds in music. ✍ Ash accents the antepenult; and this is not only more regular, but preferable, on account of easiness of pronunciation. Most orhoëpists place the accent on the first syllable. Syn. -- Accompanying; contributory; auxiliary; subsidiary; subservient; additional; acceding.

plural Accessories

That which belongs to something else deemed the principal; something additional and subordinate. "The aspect and accessories of a den of banditti." Carlyle.
(Law) Same as Accessary, n.
(Fine Arts) Anything that enters into a work of art without being indispensably necessary, as mere ornamental parts. Elmes. Syn. -- Abettor; accomplice; ally; coadjutor. See Abettor.