The Meaning of Accord: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of accord? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word accord, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word accord mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and other sources like American Heritage and Collins English Dictionary, the word accord can be used as a transitive verb or intransitive verb to mean to being into agreement, to grant or give as appropriate, to agree with, and archaically and obsoletely to arrive at an agreement or give consent. As a noun, the word accord refers to agreement, conformity, the voluntary or spontaneous impulse to act on something, or harmony, as well as a formal reaching of an agreement. The pronunciation of accord is əˈkɔrd. It is two syllables, ac-cord.

Many different languages also contain words meaning accord. You may notice that some of these translations listed below look and sound similar to the word accord. These are called cognates, which are usually formed when two words have the same language of origin such as Latin or Greek, or the same root word. The below list of translations of accord is provided by Word Sense

  •  Japanese: 合意‎
  •  Cebuano: panaghiuyon‎
  •  Indonesian: sepakat‎, setuju‎
  •  Polish: porozumienie‎
  •  Portuguese: acordo‎ (masc.)
  •  Bengali: সামঞ্জস্য‎
  •  Estonian: kokkulepe‎
  •  Arabic: تَفَاهُم‎ (masc.)
  •  German: Übereinstimmung‎ (fem.)
  •  French: entente‎ (fem.)
  •  Romanian: acord‎ (neut.), înțelegere‎ (fem.)
  •  Italian: accordo‎ (masc.)
  •  Czech: souhlas‎ (masc.)
  •  Russian: согла́сие‎ (neut.)
  •  Hebrew: הסכם‎
  •  Spanish: acuerdo‎ (masc.), convenio‎ (masc.)
  •  Ido: akordo‎
  •  Bulgarian: съгласие‎
  •  Korean: 협정‎
  •  Interlingua: accordo‎

How can the word accord be used in a sentence?

The word accord can be used in many different sentences in the English language. Using a word in a sentence is a great way to memorize its definition. You can also make flashcards or quizzes for yourself to memorize the meaning of the word accord. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are several examples of accord.

The editors at Harpercollins Publishers and Random house were in accord about the copyright infringement. They decided to go after the criminal together and file a suit.

He received due praise for acting of his own accord and saving the people from the building. Later, he was given the key to the city and a medal of honor from the fire department. 

The beautiful accord of light glistened over the lake. We sat in the shade and looked on with satisfaction. It was the perfect honeymoon, and we didn’t ever want it to end. Thankfully we had a whole marriage ahead of us.

The Geneva Accord ended the French-Indochinese War in 1954, bringing peace to the countries.

The Honda Accord was slapped with a lawsuit – everyone was in accord that there should be a recall. The company was furious.

Nobody in the English class could accord on whether the verb was in the past tense, past participle, or present participle. There was much debate over the simple word and tense.

The groups of people were in accord that they expected a particular kind of treatment at the hotel, not the tumultuous welcome they received when all of their baggage had been mixed up.

What is the origin of the word accord?

According to Etymonline, the word accord has been used as a verb to mean to agree or be in harmony since the early 12th century. It has been used as a noun since the late 13th century written as the Middle English accourd or acord, which come from the Old French acorde, Old French acort and Old French acorder, all meaning an agreement or to agree from the 12th century. These come from the Vulgar Latin accordare meaning to make agree, literally translating to “to be of one heart.” This comes from the Latin prefix ad meaning to and cor, the genitive cordis meaning heart. This comes from the Proto-Indo-European root kerd meaning heart. One can add the suffixes ing, ed, and ly to make the related words according, accorded, and accordingly.

What are synonyms and antonyms for accord?

There are numerous different words that have the same definition as the word accord and can be used interchangeably with it. These are called synonyms. Learning synonyms is a great way to easily expand your vocabulary and avoid repeating the same word over and over again. This list of synonyms for accord is provided by Thesaurus.

  •  verifying
  •  assenting
  •  concurring
  •  correspondence
  •  accommodation
  •  compromise
  •  treaty
  •  authorizing
  •  compliance
  •  good vibrations
  •  agreement
  •  sympathy
  •  complying
  •  pact
  •  good vibes
  •  concert
  •  approving
  •  granting
  •   harmony
  •  10-4
  •  affiliation
  •  arrangement
  •  adjustment
  •  suitableness
  •  verification
  •  concord
  •  union
  •  acknowledging
  •  similarity
  •  mutual understanding
  •  consistency
  •  bargaining
  •  unanimity
  •  concession
  •  rapport
  •  reconciliation
  •  understanding
  •  amity
  •  concurrence
  •  unison
  •  congruence
  •  alliance
  •  congruity
  •  compatibility
  •  concordance
  •  affinity
  •  endorsing
  •  ratifying
  •  mediation
  •  conformity
  •  deal
  •  accession
  •  arbitration
  •  okay
  •  accordance
  •  acceding

There are also numerous different words that have the opposite meaning of accord. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another easy way to build your English vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word accord is provided by Thesaurus.

  •  atmospherics
  •  divisiveness
  •  feud
  •  dissidence
  •  fight
  •  falling out
  •  ill will
  •  rupture
  •  disagreement
  •  quarrel
  •  ill feeling
  •  animosity
  •  tension
  •  clashing
  •  contention
  •  squabble
  •  bickering
  •  wrangle
  •  conflict
  •  jarring
  •  misunderstanding
  •  argument
  •  dissent
  •  clash
  •  altercation
  •  controversy
  •  split
  •  variance
  •  breach
  •  disunity
  •  spat
  •  division
  •  strife
  •  difference
  •  discord
  •  break
  •  friction
  •  hostility
  •  hassle
  •  antagonism
  •  vendetta
  •  disunion
  •  debate
  •  contest
  •  discord
  •  words
  •  opposition
  •  cross-purposes

Overall, the word accord (əˈkɔːrd) means a concurrence of opinions, harmonious union of sounds, or some formal agreement or written agreement. This word has Indo-European roots and comes from the Medieval Latin accordāre and Latin ad and stem of cor heart.

Sources:

  1. accord | Origin and meaning of accord | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  2. ACCORD Synonyms: 86 Synonyms & Antonyms for ACCORD | Thesaurus 
  3. DISAGREEMENT Synonyms: 84 Synonyms & Antonyms for DISAGREEMENT | Thesaurus 
  4. accord: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  5. Accord | Definition of Accord | Merriam-Webster