Accomplice Meaning
/əˈkɒm.plɪs/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory.
nounA cooperator.
Sentence Examples
He was considered an accomplice.
He was considered to be an accomplice.
The police say they know you had an accomplice.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The thief was caught because his ____ accidentally left a fingerprint on the safe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police are looking for the driver who acted as an ____ in the robbery.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Third Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 46, lines 359–362:
"And thou, the curs’d Accomplice of her Treaſon, / Declare thy Meſſage, and expect thy Doom."
— 1749 February 6 (first performance; written 1726–1749), Samuel Johnson, Irene: A Tragedy. […], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley […]; and sold by M[ary] Cooper […], published 16 February 1749, →OCLC, act V, scene xii, page 83:
"“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.”"
— 2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], “Guilty”, in Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN, pages 259–260:
"Succeſſe vnto our valiant Generall, / And happineſſe to his accomplices."
— 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 115, column 1:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The thief was caught because his ____ accidentally left a fingerprint on the safe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police are looking for the driver who acted as an ____ in the robbery.