[a. Fr. accommodation (Cotgr., 1611), ad. L. accommodātiōn-em, n. of action f. accommodā-re to ACCOMMODATE.]
1. The action of accommodating, or process of being accommodated; of fitting, adapting, adjusting, suiting; adaptation, adjustment.
1644. Bulwer, Chironomia, 58. Gestures and motions must come in with their accommodation.
1665. Glanville, Scepsis Sc., Addr. 6. That disputing physiology is of no accommodation to your designs.
1769–90. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc. (1876), v. 372. Skilful accommodation of other men’s conceptions to his own purpose.
1841. Myers, Cath. Thoughts, III. § 4. 12. What was Judaism itself … but a great system of accommodation?
b. spec. The action or power of adapting the eyes to view objects at various distances.
1833. Brewster, Nat. Magic, iii. 53. The accommodation of the eye to the distinct vision of external objects.
1875. Wood, Therap. (1879), 358. Local application of gelsemia to the eye produces … paralysis of accommodation.
2. Adaptation of a word, expression, or system to something different from its original purpose.
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 212. The frequent accommodation of the Septuagint Version to the later Hebrew.
1860. Trench, Serm. in Westm., ix. 92. The adaptation or accommodation of a prophecy … having properly no allusion to Him at all.
1865. Mozley, Miracles, vii. 282. Some intermediate religion being preached first as an accommodation.
3. Self-adaptation; conformity to circumstance; conciliatory disposition or conduct; obligingness.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journey (1778), I. 4. When I had … drank the King of France’s health, to satisfy my mind that I bore him no spleen … I rose up an inch taller for the accomodation.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), II. viii. 66. His object in these accommodations was to draw over the more moderate Romanists.
1830. Sir J. Macintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 186. Accommodation, without which society would be painful, and arduous affairs would become impracticable.
4. An arrangement of a dispute; a settlement, composition, treaty, or compromise.
1645. Liberty of Consc., 36. By accommodation I understand an agreement of dissenters with the rest of the Church in practicall conclusions.
1689. Selden, Table Talk, 62. ’Tis hard to make an accommodation between the King and the Parliament.
1745. De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., II. xxxix. 119. He will bring all differences to a friendly accommodation.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. I. vi. 81. Negotiations were now opened for an accommodation between the belligerents.
5. The supplying with what is suitable or requisite.
1737. Johnson, Rambler, 145. ¶ 1. The meanest artisan or manufacturer contributes more to the accommodation of life, than the profound scholar and argumentative theorist.
6. Anything which supplies a want, or affords aid or refreshment, or ministers to one’s comfort; a convenience, an appliance.
1616. Surflet & Markh., Countrey Farme, 539. When a man liueth farre from his necessarie accommodations, as from his fuell, his fencing, his timber.
1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 731. Wilton is the stateliest and pleasantest for gardens, fountains and other accommodations.
1769–90. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc. (1876), 301. The regular progress of cultivated life is from necessaries to accommodations, from accommodations to ornaments.
1866. Geo. Eliot, Felix Holt, 4. They probably thought of the coach with some contempt, as an accommodation for people who had not their own gigs.
b. attrib.
1813. Mar. Graham, Jrnl. in India, 128. A particular police regulates the catamarans, accommodation-boats and bar-boats.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred (1871), IV. xi. 327. From the door of the house were some temporary steps, like an accommodation ladder.
1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Wd.-Bk., s.v. Accommodation ladder, a convenient flight of steps fixed at the gangway, by which officers and visitors enter the ship.
1881. Miss Braddon, Asphodel, I. 289. Goring Lane was an accommodation road, leading down from the home farm to the meadows.
7. esp. Room and suitable provision for the reception of people; entertainment; lodgings. (Formerly mostly in pl.)
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 239. Such Accomodation and besort As leuels with her breeding.
1650. Cromwell, Lett., 92 (Carlyle). The having of a garrison there would furnish us with accommodation for our sick men.
1722. De Foe, Moll Fl. (1840), 343. These had accommodations assigned them in the great cabin.
1803. Porter, Thad. Warsaw (1831), xi. 100. The Hummums, Covent Garden, has as good accommodations as any in town.
1856. Kane, Arctic Explor., I. xvi. 192. Our sole accommodation a tent barely able to contain eight persons.
8. Pecuniary aid in an emergency; a loan. Accommodation Bill, a bill not representing or originating in an actual commercial transaction, but for the purpose of raising money on credit.
1824. Scott, Ronan’s Well (1868), xv. 653. There is maybe an accommodation bill discounted now and then, Mr. Touchwood; but men must have accommodation, or the world would stand still—accommodation is the grease that makes the wheels go. Ibid. (1826), in Lockhart’s Life (1839), VIII. 336. Having obtained an accommodation of £100 from Ballantyne.
1868. Rogers, Polit. Econ. (ed. 3), xi. 142. Persons pay highly for accommodation, because they have no security, or no good security, to offer.
1882. Daily News, July 3 (Advt.). Cash Accommodation.—Respectable Householders in town or country supplied with money at moderate interest.
