I. ˈakˌses also ikˈs- or akˈs- noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French acces arrival, from Latin accessus approach, access, admittance, from accessus past participle of accedere to approach — more at accede
1.
[influenced in meaning by Middle French accession & Latin accessio — more at accession ]
a. : an attack or onset of illness or disease
an access of paralysis the afternoon previous — George Ticknor
b. : a fit or spell of intense feeling
he had such an access now — Oliver La Farge
: outburst
accesses of pessimism — S.H.Adams
2.
a.
(1) : permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, communicate with, or pass to and from
access to every room
access to the president
a country with access to the sea
(2) : admission to sexual intercourse
(3) : a landowner's legal right to pass from his land to a highway and to return without being obstructed
b. : freedom or ability to obtain or make use of
give them access to jobs of confidence or trust — New York Times
: ability or means to participate in, work in, or gain insight into
access to the liberal arts
c. : a way by which a thing or place may be approached or reached : passageway
a lock built to give access to the sea
d.
(1) : the action of going to or reaching : approach , entrance : passage to and from
provide a means of access to the lake
completed plans for access tracks to the factory
(2) : approach to God through Jesus Christ — used especially in titles of prayers
the Anglican prayer of humble access
3. : an increase by addition
a sudden access of wealth
4. obsolete
a. : an assembling or meeting especially of the British Parliament
b. : a coming to office or sovereignty
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: access , noun
: to get at : gain access to
index registers can be accessed by the programmer — Datamation