action of account

Account Ac*count", n. [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF. acont, fr. aconter. See {Account}, v. t., {Count}, n., 1.] 1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time. [1913 Webster]

A beggarly account of empty boxes. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank. [1913 Webster]

3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts. [1913 Webster]

4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle. ``A laudable account of the city of London.'' --Howell. [1913 Webster]

5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon. [1913 Webster]

Give an account of thy stewardship. --Luke xvi. 2. [1913 Webster]

6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. ``To stand high in your account.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. ``Men of account.'' --Pope. ``To turn to account.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Account current}, a running or continued account between two or more parties, or a statement of the particulars of such an account.

{In account with}, in a relation requiring an account to be kept.

{On account of}, for the sake of; by reason of; because of.

{On one's own account}, for one's own interest or behalf.

{To make account}, to have an opinion or expectation; to reckon. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{To make account of}, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as, he makes small account of beauty.

{To take account of}, or {to take into account}, to take into consideration; to notice. ``Of their doings, God takes no account.'' --Milton .

{A writ of account} (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings demanding that the defendant shall render his just account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called also an {action of account}. --Cowell. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description; explanation; rehearsal.

Usage: {Account}, {Narrative}, {Narration}, {Recital}. These words are applied to different modes of rehearsing a series of events. {Account} turns attention not so much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more properly applies to the report of some single event, or a group of incidents taken as whole; as, an {account} of a battle, of a shipwreck, etc. A {narrative} is a continuous story of connected incidents, such as one friend might tell to another; as, a {narrative} of the events of a siege, a {narrative} of one's life, etc. {Narration} is usually the same as {narrative}, but is sometimes used to describe the {mode} of relating events; as, his powers of {narration} are uncommonly great. {Recital} denotes a series of events drawn out into minute particulars, usually expressing something which peculiarly interests the feelings of the speaker; as, the {recital} of one's wrongs, disappointments, sufferings, etc. [1913 Webster]