Main Entry:

²account

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French acunter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + cunter to count

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1: to think of as : consider <accounts himself lucky>2: to probe into : analyzeintransitive verb1: to furnish a justifying analysis or explanation —used with for<couldn't account for the loss>2 a: to be the sole or primary factor —used with for<the pitcher accounted for all three putouts> b: to bring about the capture, death, or destruction of something —used with for<accounted for two rabbits>