accessary n : someone who helps another person commit a crime [syn: accessory]

English

Alternative spellings

• accessory

Note: This word, as used in law, is spelt accessory by Blackstone and many others; but in this sense is spelt accessary by Bouvier, Burrill, Burns, Whishaw, Dane, and the Penny Cyclopedia; while in other senses it is spelt accessory. In recent text-books on criminal law the distinction is not preserved, the spelling being either accessary or accessory. - Webster, 1913 Since that time this trend has accelerated.

Etymology

Confer accessory and accessarius.

Adjective

accessary

1. : Accompanying as a subordinate; additional; accessory; especially, uniting in, or contributing to, a crime, but not as chief actor. See accessory.

   Quotations

   • To both their deaths thou shalt be accessary. - Shakespeare, Richard III, I-iii
   • Amongst many secondary and accessary causes that support monarchy, these are not of least reckoning. - Milton

Noun

1. : One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense.

Derived terms

• accessary before the fact one who commands or counsels an offense, not being present at its commission.
• accessary after the fact one who, after an offense, assists or shelters the offender, not being present at the commission of the offense.