according

English

Alternative forms

• accourding (obsolete)

Etymology

accord +‎ -ing

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈkɔːdɪŋ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ə.ˈkɔɹd.ɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ac‧cord‧ing

Verb

according

1. present participle of accord.
   • 1849, Alfred Tennyson, “Prologue”, in In Memoriam A.H.H., stanza 7-8:

     That mind and soul, according well, / May make one music as before

Adjective

according (comparative more according, superlative most according)

1. Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious.

   This according voice of national wisdom.

Adverb

according (comparative more according, superlative most according)

1. (obsolete) Accordingly; correspondingly. [16th-17th c.]
   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, V.i:

     That apprehends no further than this world, / And squarest thy life according.

2. Consistently as; in a corresponding manner (now generally expressing accordance with two or more alternatives). [from 16th c.]
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.20:

     Ethical theories may be divided into two classes, according as they regard virtue as an end or a means.

3. In accordance, in a manner consistent to (something). [from 16th c.]
   • 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:

     there was only a frightening silence, unenlivened even by the invidious enquiries of former years, which culminated, according to its stern nature, in a still more frightening old woman, a figure awaiting her on the very doorstep.

Derived terms

• according to
• according as