Etymology: Middle English acounte,accompte, from Anglo-French acunte, from acunter
Date: 14th century
1archaic:reckoning, computation 2 a: a record of debit and credit entries to cover transactions involving a particular item or a particular person or concern b: a statement of transactions during a fiscal period and the resulting balance 3 a: a statement explaining one's conduct b: a statement or exposition of reasons, causes, or motives <no satisfactory account of these phenomena>c: a reason for an action :basis<on that account I must refuse> 4 a: a formal business arrangement providing for regular dealings or services (as banking, advertising, or store credit) and involving the establishment and maintenance of an account; also:client, customerb: money deposited in a bank account and subject to withdrawal by the depositor 5 a:value, importance<it's of no account to me>b:esteem<stood high in their account> 6:advantage<turned her wit to good account> 7 a: careful thought :consideration<have to take many things into account>b: a usually mental record :track<keep account of all you do> 8: a description of facts, conditions, or events :report, narrative<the newspaper account of the fire><by all accounts they're well-off>; also:performance<a straightforward account of the sonata>
— on account: with the price charged to one's account
— on account of: for the sake of : by reason of
— on no account: under no circumstances
— on one's own account1: on one's own behalf 2: at one's own risk 3: by oneself : on one's own