An additional item that is less important than something else, or a person who helps another commit a crime without directly committing it.
From Medieval Latin accessarius (additional), from Latin accedere (to approach or be added to). The word entered English in the 15th century with both meanings.
This is an older spelling variant of 'accessory,' and it's still used in legal contexts where 'accessary before the fact' means someone who helps plan a crime—lawyers keep this archaic spelling alive because precise legal terminology matters!
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