accomplice
/əˈkɑm.pləs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.22 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory.
noun
A cooperator.
Example Sentences
- "Childleſs Arturius, vaſtly rich before, / Thus by his Loſſes multiplies his Store: / Suſpected for Accomplice to the Fire, / That burnt his Palace but to build it higher."
- "And thou, the curs’d Accomplice of her Treaſon, / Declare thy Meſſage, and expect thy Doom."
- "“You have a young son, yet you involve yourself in the world of organised crime. Robbing a bank no less! Stealing half a million pounds! Money, I might add, that has never been recovered. You must know where the money is hidden, and yet, Mr Goodie, you refuse to inform the police. You must have had accomplices, but you will not name them. This no doubt is the criminals’ code of honour.”"
- "Succeſſe vnto our valiant Generall, / And happineſſe to his accomplices."
Etymology
First attested in 1550. From a complice, from Middle English complice, from Old French complice (“confederate”), from Latin complicāre (“fold together”). The article a became part of the word, through the influence of the word accomplish.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əˈkɑm.pləs/
- British English: /əˈkɒm.plɪs/