Main Entry:

¹ac·count

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈkau̇nt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English acounte, accompte, from Anglo-French acunte, from acunter

Date:

14th century

1archaic : reckoning, computation2 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 balance3 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, customer b: money deposited in a bank account and subject to withdrawal by the depositor5 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 account

1: on one's own behalf2: at one's own risk3: by oneself : on one's own