Adjacent Words

Accomplice definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ACCOM'PLICE, n. [L. complicatus, folded together, of con, with, and plico, to fold. See Complex and Pledge.] An associate in a crime; a partner or partaker in guilt. It was formerly used in a good sense for a co-operator, but this sense is wholly obsolete. It is followed by with before a person; as A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan (especially an unethical or illegal plan) [syn: accomplice, confederate]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: alteration (from incorrect division of a complice) of complice Date: 1584 one associated with another especially in wrongdoing

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a partner in a crime or wrongdoing. Etymology: ME and F complice (prob. by assoc. with ACCOMPANY), f. LL complex complicis confederate: cf. COMPLICATE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Accomplice Ac*com"plice, n. [Ac- (perh. for the article a or for L. ad) + E. complice. See Complice.] 1. A cooperator. [R.] Success unto our valiant general, And happiness to his accomplices! --Shak. 2. (Law) An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory. ``And thou, the cursed accomplice of his treason.'' --Johnson. Note: It is followed by with or of before a person and by in (or sometimes of) before the crime; as, A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing. ``Suspected for accomplice to the fire.'' --Dryden. Syn: Abettor; accessory; assistant; associate; confederate; coadjutor; ally; promoter. See Abettor.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(accomplices) Someone's accomplice is a person who helps them to commit a crime. The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice. N-COUNT: oft poss N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Confederate, accessary, abettor, associate (in a crime). See socius criminis.

Moby Thesaurus

a party to, abettor, accessary, accessory, accomplice in crime, ally, assistant, associate, coconspirator, cohort, collaborator, colleague, confederate, conspirator, copartner, cotenant, fellow, fellow conspirator, henchman, partaker, participant, participator, partner, party, shareholder, sharer, socius criminis