Account

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Account \Ac*count"\, n. [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF.
     acont, fr. aconter. See {Account}, v. t., {Count}, n., 1.]
     1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a
        record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
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              A beggarly account of empty boxes.    --Shak.
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     2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed
        statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and
        also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review;
        as, to keep one's account at the bank.
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     3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc.,
        explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has
        been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often
        used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive,
        etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all
        accounts.
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     4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of
        transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a
        description; as, an account of a battle. "A laudable
        account of the city of London." --Howell.
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     5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's
        conduct with reference to judgment thereon.
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              Give an account of thy stewardship.   --Luke xvi. 2.
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     6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. "To stand
        high in your account." --Shak.
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     7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. "Men of
        account." --Pope. "To turn to account." --Shak.
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     {Account current}, a running or continued account between two
        or more parties, or a statement of the particulars of such
        an account.
  
     {In account with}, in a relation requiring an account to be
        kept.
  
     {On account of}, for the sake of; by reason of; because of.
        
  
     {On one's own account}, for one's own interest or behalf.
  
     {To make account}, to have an opinion or expectation; to
        reckon. [Obs.]
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              This other part . . . makes account to find no
              slender arguments for this assertion out of those
              very scriptures which are commonly urged against it.
                                                    --Milton.
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     {To make account of}, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as,
        he makes small account of beauty.
  
     {To take account of}, or {to take into account}, to take into
        consideration; to notice. "Of their doings, God takes no
        account."                                   --Milton
        .
  
     {A writ of account} (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings
        demanding that the defendant shall render his just
        account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called
        also an {action of account}. --Cowell.
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     Syn: Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description;
          explanation; rehearsal.
  
     Usage: {Account}, {Narrative}, {Narration}, {Recital}. These
            words are applied to different modes of rehearsing a
            series of events. {Account} turns attention not so
            much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more
            properly applies to the report of some single event,
            or a group of incidents taken as whole; as, an
            {account} of a battle, of a shipwreck, etc. A
            {narrative} is a continuous story of connected
            incidents, such as one friend might tell to another;
            as, a {narrative} of the events of a siege, a
            {narrative} of one's life, etc. {Narration} is usually
            the same as {narrative}, but is sometimes used to
            describe the {mode} of relating events; as, his powers
            of {narration} are uncommonly great. {Recital} denotes
            a series of events drawn out into minute particulars,
            usually expressing something which peculiarly
            interests the feelings of the speaker; as, the
            {recital} of one's wrongs, disappointments,
            sufferings, etc.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Account \Ac*count"\, v. i.
     1. To render or receive an account or relation of
        particulars; as, an officer must account with or to the
        treasurer for money received.
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     2. To render an account; to answer in judgment; -- with for;
        as, we must account for the use of our opportunities.
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     3. To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to
        explain; -- with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty.
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     {To account of}, to esteem; to prize; to value. Now used only
        in the passive. "I account of her beauty." --Shak.
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              Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the
              sixteenth century.                    --Canon
                                                    Robinson.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Account \Ac*count"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Accounted}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Accounting}.] [OE. acounten, accompten, OF. aconter,
     [`a] (L. ad) + conter to count. F. conter to tell, compter to
     count, L. computare. See {Count}, v. t.]
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     1. To reckon; to compute; to count. [Obs.]
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              The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are
              accounted.                            --Sir T.
                                                    Browne.
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     2. To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to
        assign; -- with to. [R.] --Clarendon.
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     3. To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or
        consider; to deem.
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              Accounting that God was able to raise him up. --Heb.
                                                    xi. 19.
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     4. To recount; to relate. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  account
       n 1: a formal contractual relationship established to provide for
            regular banking or brokerage or business services; "he
            asked to see the executive who handled his account"
            [syn: {business relationship}]
       2: the act of informing by verbal report; "he heard reports
          that they were causing trouble"; "by all accounts they
          were a happy couple" [syn: {report}]
       3: a record or narrative description of past events; "a history
          of France"; "he gave an inaccurate account of the plot to
          kill the president"; "the story of exposure to lead" [syn:
           {history}, {chronicle}, {story}]
       4: a short account of the news; "the report of his speech";
          "the story was on the 11 o'clock news"; "the account of
          his speech that was given on the evening news made the
          governor furious" [syn: {report}, {news report}, {story},
          {write up}]
       5: a statement of recent transactions and the resulting
          balance; "they send me an accounting every month" [syn: {accounting},
           {account statement}]
       6: a statement that makes something comprehensible by
          describing the relevant structure or operation or
          circumstances etc.; "the explanation was very simple"; "I
          expected a brief account" [syn: {explanation}]
       7: an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or
          services rendered; "he paid his bill and left"; "send me
          an account of what I owe" [syn: {bill}, {invoice}]
       8: grounds; "don't do it on my account"; "the paper was
          rejected on account of its length"; "he tried to blame the
          victim but his success on that score was doubtful" [syn: {score}]
       9: importance or value; "a person of considerable account"; "he
          predicted that although it is of small account now it will
          rapidly increase in importance"
       10: the quality of taking advantage; "she turned her writing
           skills to good account"
       v 1: be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition,
            supply, or disposal of something; "Passing grades
            account for half of the grades given in this exam"
       2: keep an account of [syn: {calculate}]
       3: to give an account or representation of in words; "Discreet
          Italian police described it in a manner typically
          continental" [syn: {report}, {describe}]
       4: furnish a justifying analysis or explanation; "I can't
          account for the missing money" [syn: {answer for}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  251 Moby Thesaurus words for "account":
     a reckoning of, account current, account for, account of,
     account rendered, account stated, accounting, accounts,
     acquaintance, acta, adjudge, adjudicate, advantage, aggregate,
     allow, allow for, allowance, amount, anecdotage, anecdote, annals,
     announcement, annual, answer for, approbation, approval,
     assessment, balance, bank account, bank balance, be judicious,
     benefit, bill, bill of account, bill of fare, bill of lading,
     blackmail, blood money, blue book, body count, books, box score,
     brief, briefing, bulletin, calculation, capitulation, carte,
     cash account, cast, catalog, census, census report, charge account,
     check, check of, checking account, chronicle, communication,
     communique, computation, consequence, consider, consideration,
     control account, conversion factor, correspondence, count,
     count of, credit, credit account, data, datum, deem, description,
     difference, directory, dispatch, documentation, dun,
     election returns, emolument, enlightenment, enumeration, epic,
     epos, esteem, estimation, evidence, exercise judgment,
     expense account, explain, explanation, express an opinion, face,
     face value, facts, factual information, familiarization, favor,
     fee, footing, form an opinion, gen, general information, guidebook,
     handout, hard information, head count, history, hold, honor,
     hush money, importance, incidental information, income account,
     info, information, initiation fee, instruction, intelligence,
     interest, inventory, invoice, itemized bill, judge, justify,
     knowledge, ledger, letters, light, list, manifest, market value,
     memorial, mention, menu, merit, message, mileage, minutes,
     narration, narrative, net worth, nose count, note, notice,
     notification, number, par value, pennyworth, pine, pipe roll,
     presentation, presume, proceedings, product, profit,
     promotional material, proof, provision account, publication,
     publicity, quantity, rate, recapitulation, recital, reckoning,
     record, recording, recount, recounting, regard, register, registry,
     rehearsal, relation, release, relic, remains, repertory, report,
     respect, retainer, retaining fee, returns, revenue account, roll,
     rolls, roster, rota, running account, saga, sake, sales account,
     savings account, score, scot, scroll, selling account, sidelight,
     significance, standing, statement, stipend, stock account, story,
     sum, summary, summation, summing, summing up, suppose,
     suspense account, tab, table, tabs of, take into consideration,
     take note of, tale, tally, tally of, the bottom line, the dope,
     the goods, the know, the record, the scoop, the story,
     the whole story, think of, token, total, trace, track of,
     transactions, transmission, tribute, use, valuation account, value,
     value received, vestige, white book, white paper, whole, word,
     worth, x number, yarn, yearbook
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  ACCOUNT, remedies. This is the name of a writ or action more properly called
  account render.
       2. It is applicable to the, case of an unliquidated demand, against a
  person who is chargeable as bailiff or receiver. The use of it, is where the
  plaintiff wants an account and cannot give evidence of his right without it.
  5 Taunt. 431  It is necessary where the receipt was directed to a
  merchandising which makes all uncertainty of the net remain, till the
  account is finished; or where a man is charged as bailiff, whereupon the
  certainty of his receipt appears not till account. Hob. 209.; See also 8
  Cowen, R. 304; 9 Conn. R. 556; 2 Day, R. 28; Kirby, 164; 3 Gill & John. 388;
  3 Verm. 485; 4 Watts, 420; 8 Cowen, 220. It is also the proper remedy by one
  partner against another. 15 S. & R. 153 3 Binn. 317; 10 S. & R. 220; 2 Conn.
  425; 4 Verm. 137; 1 Dall. 340; 2 Watts 86.
       3. The interlocutory judgment in this action is (quod computet) that
  the defendant render an account upon which judgment auditors are assigned to
  him to hear and report his account. (See I Lutwych, 47; 3 Leon. 149, for
  precedents)  As the principal object of the action is to compel a settlement
  of the account in the first instance, special bail cannot be demanded, (2
  Roll. Rep. 53; 2 Keble, 404,) nor are damages awarded upon the first
  judgment, nor given except ratione interplacitationis, (Cro. Eliz. 83; 5
  Binn. 664; 24 Ed. 3. 16; 18 Ed. 3. 55; Reg. Brev. 136 b,) although it is
  usual to conclude the count with a demand of damages. (Lib. Int. fo. 16. fo.
  20; 1 Lutw. 51. 58; 2 H. 7. 13.) The reason assigned for this rule, is, that
  it may be the defendant will not be found in arrears after he has accounted,
  and the court cannot know until the settlement of the account whether the
  plaintiff has been endamaged or not. 7 H. 6. 38.
       4. This action combines the properties of a legal and equitable action.
  
  The proceedings up to the judgment quod computet, and subsequent to the
  account reported by the auditors are conducted upon the principles of the
  common law.  But the account is to be adjusted upon the most liberal
  principles of equity and, good faith. (Per Herle, Ch. J. 3 Ed. 3. 10.) The
  court it is said are judges of the action - the auditors of the account,
  Bro. Ab. Ace. 48, and both are judges of record, 4 H. 6. 17; Stat. West. 2.
  c. 11.  This action has received extension in Pennsylvania. 1 Dall. 339,
  340.
       5. The fist judgment (quod computet) is enforced by a capias ad
  computandum where defendant refuses to appear before the auditors, upon
  which he may be held to bail, or in default of bail be made to account in
  prison.  The final judgment quod recuperet is enforced by fi. fa. or such
  other process  as the law allows for the recovery of debts.
       6. If the defendant charged as bailiff is found in surplusage, no
  judgment can be entered thereon to recover the amount so found in his favor
  against the plaintiff, but as the auditors are judges of record, he may
  bring an action of debt, or by some authorities a sci. fac. against the
  plaintiff, whereon he may have judgment and execution against the plaintiff.
  See Palm. 512; 2 Bulst. 277-8; 1 Leon. 219; 3 Keble Rep. 362; 1 Roll. Ab.
  599, pl. 11; Bro. Ab. Acc. 62; 1 Roll. Rep. 87. See Bailiff, in account
  render.
       7. In those states where they have courts of chancery, this action is
  nearly superseded by the better remedy which is given by a bill in equity,
  by which the complainant can elicit a discovery of the acts from the
  defendant under his oath, instead of relying merely on the evidence he may
  be able to produce. 9 John. R. 470; 1 Paige, R. 41; 2 Caines' Cas. Err. 38,
  62; 1 J. J. Marsh. R. 82; Cooke, R. 420; 1 Yerg. R. 360; 2 John. Ch. R. 424;
  10 John. R. 587; 2 Rand. R. 449; 1 Hen. & M9; 2 M'Cord's Ch. R. 469; 2
  Leigh's R. 6.
       8. Courts of equity have concurrent jurisdiction in matters of account
  with courts of law, and sometimes exclusive jurisdiction at least in some
  respects: For example; if a plaintiff be entitled to an account, a court of
  equity will restrain the defendant from proceeding in a claim, the
  correctness of which cannot be ascertained until the account be taken; but
  not where the subject is a matter of set-off. 1 Sch. & Lef. 309; Eden on
  Injunct. 23, 24.
       9. When an account has voluntarily been stated between parties, an
  action of assumpsit may be maintained thereon. 3 Bl. Com. 162; 8 Com. Dig.
  7; 1 Com. Dig. 180; 2 Ib. 468; 1 Vin. Ab. 135; Bac. Ab. h.t.; Doct. Pl. 26;
  Yelv. 202; 1 Supp. to Ves. Jr, 117; 2 Ib. 48, 136. Vide 1 Binn. R. 191; 4
  Dall. R. 434; Whart. Dig. h.t. ; 3 Wils. 73, 94; 8 D.& R. 596; Bull. N. P.
  128; 5 Taunt.  431; U. S. Dig. h.t.; 2 Greenl. Ev. Sec. 34-39.
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  ACCOUNT, practice. A statement of the receipts and payments of an executor,
  administrator, or other trustee, of the estate confided to him.
       2. Every one who administers the affairs of another is required at the
  end of his administration to render an account of his management of the
  same.  Trustees of every description can, in general, be compelled by courts
  of chancery to settle accounts, or otherwise fully execute their trusts.
  Where there are no courts of chancery, the courts of common law are usually
  invested with power for the same purposes by acts of legislation.  When a
  party has had the property of another as his agent, he may be compelled at
  common law to account by an action of account render.
       3. An account is also the statement of two merchants or others who have
  dealt together, showing the debits and credits between them.