Definition of accessory

The word "accessory" has its roots in Latin. In Latin, the word "accessorium" means "that which is added" or "that which is subordinate". This Latin term is derived from the prefix "ad-" which means "to" or "toward" and "sessus", which means "sitting" or "station". In Middle English, around the 13th century, the word "accessorie" emerged, and it referred to something that was added or joined to something else. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include items that were added to or used with something else, such as clothing accessories or car accessories. Today, the word "accessory" can refer to a wide range of items, from jewelry and hats to phone cases and laptop sleeves. Despite its evolution, the word "accessory" still retains its original meaning of something that is added or supplementary to something else.