account
/əˈkaʊnt/
noun
Origin
Latin
computare — to count, sum up, or reckon
Overview
Meaning Now
- A report or description of an event or experience.
- A record or statement of financial expenditure or funds held.
- Importance or significance, typically in a social or political context.
Literal older meaning
a reckoning or counting
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
acount
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word entered English via Anglo-Norman French, reflecting the strong influence of Norman administrative and financial vocabulary on the English language following the Conquest. It bridged the gap between purely mathematical counting and the narrative act of providing an explanation to an authority.
Evolution
- Latin
computare
“to reckon or count”
Prefix 'com-' (together) + 'putare' (to settle, prune, or reckon).
- Old French
aconter
“to reckon or give an account of”
Added the prefix 'a-' from Latin 'ad-' (to).
- Middle English
acount
“a reckoning or narrative statement”
Adopted into English from Anglo-Norman usage.
- Modern English
account
“financial record or descriptive report”
Extended in the 17th century to mean significance or value.
Connections
Word parts
ac-
prefix
to
count
root
reckon
Related across languages
French
compte
a count or bill
Spanish
cuenta
bill, account, or bead
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Related to account
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.