access

n. [ F. accès, L. accessus, fr. accedere. See Accede. ] 1. A coming to, or near approach; admittance; admission; accessibility; as, to gain access to a prince. [ 1913 Webster ]

I did repel his letters, and denied
His access to me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The means, place, or way by which a thing may be approached; passage way; as, the access is by a neck of land. “All access was thronged.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Admission to sexual intercourse. [ 1913 Webster ]

During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Increase by something added; addition; as, an access of territory. [ In this sense accession is more generally used. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I, from the influence of thy looks, receive
Access in every virtue. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An onset, attack, or fit of disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

The first access looked like an apoplexy. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A paroxysm; a fit of passion; an outburst; as, an access of fury. [ A Gallicism ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of an accessary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being accessary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Accessaries [ Cf. Accessory and LL. accessarius. ] (Law) One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

Accessary before the fact (Law), one who commands or counsels an offense, not being present at its commission. --
Accessary after the fact, one who, after an offense, assists or shelters the offender, not being present at the commission of the offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word, as used in law, is spelt accessory by Blackstone and many others; but in this sense is spelt accessary by Bouvier, Burrill, Burns, Whishaw, Dane, and the Penny Cyclopedia; while in other senses it is spelt accessory. In recent text-books on criminal law the distinction is not preserved, the spelling being either accessary or accessory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Accompanying, as a subordinate; additional; accessory; esp., uniting in, or contributing to, a crime, but not as chief actor. See Accessory. [ 1913 Webster ]

To both their deaths thou shalt be accessary. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Amongst many secondary and accessary causes that support monarchy, these are not of least reckoning. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. accessibilitas: cf. F. accessibilité. ] The quality of being accessible, or of admitting approach; receptibility. Langhorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. accessibilis, fr. accedere: cf. F. accessible. See Accede. ] 1. Easy of access or approach; approachable; as, an accessible town or mountain, an accessible person. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Open to the influence of; -- with to. “Minds accessible to reason.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Obtainable; to be got at. [ 1913 Webster ]

The best information . . . at present accessible. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an accessible manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. accessio, fr. accedere: cf. F. accession. See Accede. ] 1. A coming to; the act of acceding and becoming joined; as, a king's accession to a confederacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Increase by something added; that which is added; augmentation from without; as, an accession of wealth or territory. [ 1913 Webster ]

The only accession which the Roman empire received was the province of Britain. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) (a) A mode of acquiring property, by which the owner of a corporeal substance which receives an addition by growth, or by labor, has a right to the part or thing added, or the improvement (provided the thing is not changed into a different species). Thus, the owner of a cow becomes the owner of her calf. (b) The act by which one power becomes party to engagements already in force between other powers. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of coming to or reaching a throne, an office, or dignity; as, the accession of the house of Stuart; -- applied especially to the epoch of a new dynasty. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) The invasion, approach, or commencement of a disease; a fit or paroxysm. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Increase; addition; augmentation; enlargement. [ 1913 Webster ]