accomplice

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.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˈkɒm.plɪs/, /əˈkʌm.plɪs/^[1][2][3]
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈkɑm.pləs/, /əˈkɑm.plɪs/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ac‧com‧plice

accomplice (plural accomplices)

1. (law) An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory.
   • 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:

     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.

   • 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:

     And thou, the curs’d Accomplice of her Treaſon, / Declare thy Meſſage, and expect thy Doom.

   • 2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], “Guilty”, in Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN, pages 259–260:

     “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.”

2. (rare) A cooperator.
   • 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:

     Succeſſe vnto our valiant Generall, / And happineſſe to his accomplices.

• Followed by with or of before a person and by in or to (or sometimes of) before the crime; as, "A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C"; or, "D was an accomplice to murder".

• abettor, accessory, assistant, associate, confederate, coadjutor, ally, promoter; see abettor.