ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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noun

accountant

uh-KOWN-tunt/əˈkaʊntənt/

a person whose job is to maintain or examine financial records

The accountant checks the figures against the ledger.

An accountant at a desk carefully checking a numeric spreadsheet and ledger with a calculator, only simple financial digits, no words or captions.

Etymology

acLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+countOld Frenchto count, reckon

+antOld Frenchdoing or being something

The participial form described someone counting or rendering accounts. It became a title for an accounting officer and then a professional responsible for financial records, rather than simply anyone who counts.

In context

Story Trap53:48

In reality, she is a forensic accountant. She assists organizations in the investigation of financial irregularities.

One Question Changed Everything, Betrayed by Her Own Son and Daughter in Law | Family Drama Story

More examples

She hired an accountant to prepare the statements.
Two accountants reviewed the figures independently.
The accountant noticed a missing payment.

Forms

accountant · accountants

accounting noun — the work of keeping financial records

Similar words

bookkeeper: Someone recording transactions, often with narrower duties.
auditor: Someone examining accounts independently.