a. [ From the city Accad. See Gen. x. 10. ] Pertaining to a race supposed to have lived in Babylonia before the Assyrian conquest. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ac*ca"di*an, n., Ac"cad n. Sayce. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Acceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Acceding. ] [ L. accedere to approach, accede; ad + cedere to move, yield: cf. F. accédere. See Cede. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To approach; to come forward; -- opposed to recede. [ Obs. ] T. Gale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To enter upon an office or dignity; to attain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Edward IV., who had acceded to the throne in the year 1461. T. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

If Frederick had acceded to the supreme power. Morley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To become a party by associating one's self with others; to give one's adhesion. Hence, to agree or assent to a proposal or a view; as, he acceded to my request. [ 1913 Webster ]

The treaty of Hanover in 1725 . . . to which the Dutch afterwards acceded. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To agree; assent; consent; comply; acquiesce; concur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of acceding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who accedes. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ It. ] (Mus.) Gradually accelerating the movement. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Accelerated p. pr. & vb. n. Accelerating. ] [ L. acceleratus, p. p. of accelerare; ad + celerare to hasten; celer quick. See Celerity. ] 1. To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of; -- opposed to retard. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To hasten, as the occurence of an event; as, to accelerate our departure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Accelerated motion (Mech.), motion with a continually increasing velocity. --
Accelerating force, the force which causes accelerated motion. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To hasten; expedite; quicken; dispatch; forward; advance; further. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 caused to move faster
Syn. -- speeded up [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. 1 caused to be completed in a shorter than normal time period; speeded up, as of an academic course; He took an accelerated curriculum, and graduated in three years. Opposite of delayed.
Syn. -- expedited [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ L. acceleratio: cf. F. accélération. ] The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated; increase of motion or action; as, a falling body moves toward the earth with an acceleration of velocity; -- opposed to retardation. [ 1913 Webster ]

A period of social improvement, or of intellectual advancement, contains within itself a principle of acceleration. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Astr. & Physics.)
Acceleration of the moon, the increase of the moon's mean motion in its orbit, in consequence of which its period of revolution is now shorter than in ancient times. --
Acceleration and
retardation of the tides. See Priming of the tides, under Priming. --
Diurnal acceleration of the fixed stars, the amount by which their apparent diurnal motion exceeds that of the sun, in consequence of which they daily come to the meridian of any place about three minutes fifty-six seconds of solar time earlier than on the day preceding. --
Acceleration of the planets, the increasing velocity of their motion, in proceeding from the apogee to the perigee of their orbits. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to acceleration; adding to velocity; quickening. Reid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, accelerates. Also as an adj.; as, accelerator nerves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Accelerative. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Accelerate + -graph. ] (Mil.) An apparatus for studying the combustion of powder in guns, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Accelerate + -meter. ] An apparatus for measuring the velocity imparted by gunpowder. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. accendere, accensum, to kindle; ad + cand&ebreve_;re to kindle (only in compounds); rel. to candēre to be white, to gleam. See Candle. ] To set on fire; to kindle. [ Obs. ] Fotherby. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Capacity of being kindled, or of becoming inflamed; inflammability. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being inflamed or kindled; combustible; inflammable. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of kindling or the state of being kindled; ignition. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL., from p. p. accensus. See Accend. ] (R. C. Ch.) One of the functionaries who light and trim the tapers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. accent, L. accentus; ad + cantus a singing, canere to sing. See Cant. ] 1. A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Many English words have two accents, the primary and the secondary; the primary being uttered with a greater stress of voice than the secondary; as in as′pira&bprime_;tion, where the chief stress is on the third syllable, and a slighter stress on the first. Some words, as an′tiap′o-plec&bprime_;tic, in-com′pre-hen′si-bil&bprime_;i-ty, have two secondary accents. See Guide to Pron., §§ 30-46. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the ancient Greek the acute accent (′) meant a raised tone or pitch, the grave (`), the level tone or simply the negation of accent, the circumflex ( ~ or ^) a tone raised and then depressed. In works on elocution, the first is often used to denote the rising inflection of the voice; the second, the falling inflection; and the third (^), the compound or waving inflection. In dictionaries, spelling books, and the like, the acute accent is used to designate the syllable which receives the chief stress of voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent. “Beguiled you in a plain accent.” Shak. “A perfect accent.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tender accent of a woman's cry. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A word; a significant tone; (pl.) expressions in general; speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear,
Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Pros.) Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) (a) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure. (b) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure. (c) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period. (d) The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage. J. S. Dwight. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Math.) (a) A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y′, y″. (b) (Trigon.) A mark at the right hand of a number, indicating minutes of a degree, seconds, etc.; as, 12′27″, i. e., twelve minutes twenty seven seconds. (c) (Engin.) A mark used to denote feet and inches; as, 6′ 10″ is six feet ten inches. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Accented; p. pr. & vb. n. Accenting. ] [ OF. accenter, F. accentuer. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mark emphatically; to emphasize. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. (Phonology) having the main stress of a word; -- used of syllables
Syn. -- tonic (vs. atonic) [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. 1 being pronounced with sterss; -- used of syllables
Syn. -- heavy, strong [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. the act of giving special importance or significance to something.
Syn. -- emphasizing [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Without accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ad. + cantor singer, canere to sing. ] 1. (Mus.) One who sings the leading part; the director or leader. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A genus of European birds (so named from their sweet notes), including the hedge warbler. In America sometimes applied to the water thrushes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being accented. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to accent; characterized or formed by accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being accentual. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an accentual manner; in accordance with accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Accentuated p. pr. & vb. n. Accentuating. ] [ LL. accentuatus, p. p. of accentuare, fr. L. accentus: cf. F. accentuer. ] 1. To pronounce with an accent or with accents. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring out distinctly; to make prominent; to emphasize. [ 1913 Webster ]

In Bosnia, the struggle between East and West was even more accentuated. London Times. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To mark with the written accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. accentuatio: cf. F. accentuation. ] Act of accentuating; applications of accent. Specifically (Eccles. Mus.), pitch or modulation of the voice in reciting portions of the liturgy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Accepted; p. pr. & vb. n. Accepting. ] [ F. accepter, L. acceptare, freq. of accipere; ad + capere to take; akin to E. heave. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to accept a gift; -- often followed by of. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you accept them, then their worth is great. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To accept of ransom for my son. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

She accepted of a treat. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To receive with favor; to approve. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice. Ps. xx. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

Peradventure he will accept of me. Gen. xxxii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted? [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Com.) To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed; as, to accept the report of a committee. [ This makes it the property of the body, and the question is then on its adoption. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To accept a bill (Law), to agree (on the part of the drawee) to pay it when due. --
To accept service (Law), to agree that a writ or process shall be considered as regularly served, when it has not been. --
To accept the person (Eccl.), to show favoritism. “God accepteth no man's person.” Gal. ii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To receive; take; admit. See Receive. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Accepted. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. acceptabilitas. ] The quality of being acceptable; acceptableness. “Acceptability of repentance.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. acceptable, L. acceptabilis, fr. acceptare. ] Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with pleasure; pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as, an acceptable present, one acceptable to us. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being acceptable, or suitable to be favorably received; acceptability. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an acceptable manner; in a manner to please or give satisfaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of accepting; a receiving what is offered, with approbation, satisfaction, or acquiescence; esp., favorable reception; approval; as, the acceptance of a gift, office, doctrine, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

They shall come up with acceptance on mine altar. Isa. lx. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. State of being accepted; acceptableness. “Makes it assured of acceptance.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Com.) (a) An assent and engagement by the person on whom a bill of exchange is drawn, to pay it when due according to the terms of the acceptance. (b) The bill itself when accepted. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An agreeing to terms or proposals by which a bargain is concluded and the parties are bound; the reception or taking of a thing bought as that for which it was bought, or as that agreed to be delivered, or the taking possession as owner. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) An agreeing to the action of another, by some act which binds the person in law. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ What acts shall amount to such an acceptance is often a question of great nicety and difficulty. Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In modern law, proposal and acceptance are the constituent elements into which all contracts are resolved. [ 1913 Webster ]

acceptance of a bill of exchange,
acceptance of a check,
acceptance of a draft, or
acceptance of an order, is an engagement to pay it according to the terms. This engagement is usually made by writing the word “accepted” across the face of the bill.
Acceptance of goods, under the statute of frauds, is an intelligent acceptance by a party knowing the nature of the transaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Meaning; acceptation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Acceptance of persons, partiality, favoritism. See under Accept. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Acceptance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Here's a proof of gift,
But here's no proof, sir, of acceptancy. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Accepting; receiving. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An accepter. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Acceptance; reception; favorable reception or regard; state of being acceptable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This is saying worthy of all acceptation. 1 Tim. i. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some things . . . are notwithstanding of so great dignity and acceptation with God. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The meaning in which a word or expression is understood, or generally received; as, term is to be used according to its usual acceptation. [ 1913 Webster ]

My words, in common acceptation,
Could never give this provocation. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a accepted manner; admittedly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person who accepts; a taker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A respecter; a viewer with partiality. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

God is no accepter of persons. Chillingworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) An acceptor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acceptilatio entry of a debt collected, acquittance, fr. p. p. of accipere (cf. Accept) + latio a carrying, fr. latus, p. p. of ferre to carry: cf. F. acceptilation. ] (Civil Law) Gratuitous discharge; a release from debt or obligation without payment; free remission. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acceptio a receiving, accepting: cf. F. acception. ] Acceptation; the received meaning. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Here the word “baron” is not to be taken in that restrictive sense to which the modern acception hath confined it. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Acception of persons or
faces (Eccl.), favoritism; partiality. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Fit for acceptance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ready to accept. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who accepts; specifically (Law & Com.), one who accepts an order or a bill of exchange; a drawee after he has accepted. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]