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Webster 1913 Edition

Accomplice

Ac-com′plice

,
Noun.
[Ac- (perh. for the article a or for L. ad) + E. complice. See
Complice
.]
1.
A cooperator.
[R.]
Success unto our valiant general,
And happiness to his
accomplices
!
Shakespeare
2.
(Law)
An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory.
“And thou, the cursed accomplice of his treason.”
Johnson.
It is followed by with or of before a person and by in (or sometimes of) before the crime;
as, A was an
accomplice
with B in the murder of C
. Dryden uses it with to before a thing. “Suspected for accomplice to the fire.”
Dryden.
Syn. – Abettor; accessory; assistant; associate; confederate; coadjutor; ally; promoter. See
Abettor
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Accomplice

ACCOM'PLICE

,
Noun.
[L. complicatus, folded together, of con, with, and plico, to fold. See Complex and Pledge.] An associate in a crime; a partner or partaker in guilt. It was formerly used in a good sense for a co-operator, but this sense is wholly obsolete. It is followed by with before a person; as A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing.

Definition 2024

accomplice

accomplice

English

Noun

accomplice ‎(plural accomplices)

  1. (rare) A cooperator.
    • Success unto our valiant general, And happiness to his accomplices! - Shakespeare, Henry VI Part I, V-ii
  2. (law) An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory.
    • And thou, the cursed accomplice of his treason. - Johnson
    • Suspected for accomplice to the fire. - John Dryden

Usage notes

  • Followed by with or of before a person and by in (or sometimes of) before the crime; as, A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing.

Synonyms

Translations

Etymology

First attested in the 1580s. From Middle English accomplice, from a complice, from Old French complice ‎(“confederate”), from Latin complicare ‎(“fold together”). The article a became part of the word, through the influence of the word accomplish.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ə.ˈkʌm.plɪ̈s/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ə.ˈkɑm.pləs/, /ə.ˈkɑm.plɪ̈s/
  • Hyphenation: ac‧com‧plice

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