I. noun
also ac·ces·sa·ry ik-ˈse-sə-rē, ak-, ek-, -ˈses-rē, also ə-ˈse-
( plural -ries )
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : a person not actually or constructively present but contributing as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense — called also accessory before the fact
b. : a person who knowing that a crime has been committed aids or shelters the offender with intent to defeat justice — called also accessory after the fact
2.
a. : a thing of secondary or subordinate importance : adjunct
b. : an object or device not essential in itself but adding to the beauty, convenience, or effectiveness of something else
auto accessories
clothing accessories
II. adjective
Date: 1607
1. : assisting as a subordinate ; especially : contributing to a crime but not as the chief agent
2. : aiding or contributing in a secondary way : supplementary
3. : present in a minor amount and not essential as a constituent
an accessory mineral in a rock