to be an accessory after the fact
21accessory — ac·ces·so·ry also ac·ces·sa·ry /ik se sə rē, ak / n pl ries [Medieval Latin accessorius subordinate matter, accomplice to a crime, from Latin accedere to go to, agree, assent] 1: a person who is not actually or constructively present but with… …
22accessory — ac‧ces‧so‧ry [əkˈsesəri] noun accessories PLURALFORM 1. [countable] something that you add to a machine, tool, car etc so that it can do other things or in order to make it look attractive: • They sell software and computer accessories. • a… …
23accessory — [ak ses′ər ē, əkses′ər ē; ] also [ ə ses′ər ē] adj. [ML accessorius < L accessus, pp. of accedere, ACCEDE] 1. extra; additional; helping in a secondary or subordinate way 2. Geol. occurring in minor amounts in a specified rock; nonessential… …
24Accessary before the fact — Accessary Ac*ces sa*ry (277), n.; pl. {Accessaries}. [Cf. {Accessory} and LL. accessarius.] (Law) One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense. [1913 Webster] {Accessary before the fact}… …
25fact — [fakt] n. [L factum, that which is done, deed, fact, neut. pp. of facere, DO1] 1. a deed; act: now esp. in the sense of “a criminal deed” in the phrases after the fact and before the fact [an accessory after the fact] 2. a thing that has actually …
26before the fact — before (or after) the fact before (or after) the committing of a crime an accessory before the fact …
27Accessory (legal term) — For other uses, see Accessory (disambiguation). Criminal law …
28accessory — Anything which is joined to another thing as an ornament, or to render it more perfect, or which accompanies it, or is connected with it as an incident, or as subordinate to it, or which belongs to or with it. Adjunct or accompaniment Louis… …
29accessory — Anything which is joined to another thing as an ornament, or to render it more perfect, or which accompanies it, or is connected with it as an incident, or as subordinate to it, or which belongs to or with it. Adjunct or accompaniment Louis… …
30accessory — n. accomplice 1) an accessory to (an accessory to a crime) 2) (legal) an accessory before the fact; an accessory after the fact optional equipment 3) auto (AE); matching; skiing; smoking accessories * * * [ək sesərɪ] an accessory after the fact… …
