a. and sb.; also accomptant. [a. (15th c.) Fr. accomptant (OFr. acuntant), pr. pple. of accompter, acunter: see ACCOUNT v.]
† A. adj. Giving or liable to give an account; accountable, responsible. (In early usage with plural -s.) Obs.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 366. He admytted to that offyce William de Hadestok & Anketyll de Aluerun, and sware theym to be accomptauntes, as theyr predecessours were.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., II. iv. 86. His offence is so, as it appeares Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine. Ibid. (1604), Oth., II. i. 231. Peraduenture I stand accomptant for as great a sin.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit. (1632), IX. ix. 605. [It] was no reason why he should not stand accountant to the Son.
1622. Donne, Serm., cxxiv. V. 225. He … that is accomptant for their souls.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. lxvii. 176 (1739). The Guardian in Socage remaineth accomptant to the Heir, for all profits both of Land and Marriage.
B. sb.
1. One who renders or is liable to render account; one accountable or responsible. In Law, the defendant in action of Account. (In earliest instances not separable from prec. adj.; afterwards a true sb. The pl. was sometimes corruptly accomptance, Fr. accomptans; cf. accidents, -nce, acquaintants, -nce.)
1453. Ld. le Scrope, in Test. Eborac. (1855), II. 192. Acquyt and discharged of ony dett yat yei, or ony of yaime, owe me, except foreyne accomptaunts and seruaunts accomptaunts.
1523. Fitzherbert, Surveying, 30 a. All the mynistre and partyculer accomptes of euery baylye or reue and other accomptance. Ibid., 30 b. If the accomptance bring him perfyte rentals and court roles.
1613. Life Wm. Conq., in Sel. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 23. Committed to prison; not as bishop of Bayonne, but as earl of Kent, and as an accomptant to the king.
1630. R. Brathwait, Eng. Gent. (1641), 223. They must be accomptants in that great assize where neither greatnesse shall bee a subterfuge to guiltinesse, nor their descent plead priviledge for those many houres they have mis-spent.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. xx. 98 (1739). He took away the course of farming of Sheriff-wicks, and make the Sherifis bare accountants for the Annual profits.
1708. Chamberlayne, Grt. Brit. (1743), I. II. ii. 46. All accomptants to him for any of his Revenues.
1745. Fleetwood, Chron. Precios., App. 17. The said accomptant chargeth himself with arrearages.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Account, It is no plea by an accomptant that he was robbed.
1844. Williams, Real Prop. Law (1877), 91. Any crown debtor, or accountant to the crown.
1865. Times, 17 Aug. An ‘imprest’ means an advance of public money to enable the person to whom it may be made to carry on some public service; and the person to whom the advance is made is called the ‘imprest accountant.’
2. One who counts or can count or reckon; a reckoner, calculator.
1646. H. Lawrence, Comm. & Warre w. Angels, 31. In matters of numbring and account, an accountant will tell you that in a quarter of an hower.
1697. Dampier, Voyages (1729), I. 360. The Mindanaians are no good Accomptants; therefore the Chinese that live here, do cast up their Accompts for them.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 228. ¶ 10. He is an excellent Penman and Accomptant.
1742. Young, Night Thoughts, IX. 1307. O ye Dividers of my Time! Ye bright Accomptants of my days, and months, and years.
c. 1817. J. Hogg, Tales & Sk., V. 21. The best grammarian, the best reader, writer and accountant in the various classes that he attended.
1828. Miss Mitford, Our Village, Ser. III. 7 (1863), A false accomptant, a stupid arithmetician, would put her out of humour.
3. One who professionally makes up or takes charge of accounts; an officer in a public office who has charge of the accounts. Accountant-general, the chief or superintending accountant in various public offices.
1539. Househ. Ord., in Thynne’s Animadv. (1865), 33. And the said Books shall be examined with the Accomptants and particular Clerkes for the perfecting of the same.
1605. Camden, Rem., 18. To admonish accontants to be circumspect in entring.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., VI. 353. Herein the Dean and Chapter of Paul’s, were both their own Accomptants and Auditors.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Mon. Chas. II. & Jas. II., 121 (1851). To Katherine, the widow and relict of Dr Robert Wood, dec’ed, late accomptant generall of the Revenue in Ireland.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), VI. 329. A British accountant that’s frolic and free, Who does wondrous Feats by the Rule of Three.
1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom, 142/1 (1784). A third was the issue of an accomptant, and a fourth the offspring of a woollen-draper.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus. (1867), ii. 32. Note particularly and with the scrupulosity of an accomptant.
1878. Jevons, Prim. Polit. Econ., 82. Skilful accountants should examine the books at the end of the year, and certify the amount of profits due to the men.
† 4. A narrator. Obs. rare.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., Cent. XII. i. § 70. The same accomptant, when coming to set down, what then, and there was offered to Christ’s, or the High-Altar, dispatcheth all with a blanke, Summo Altari nil.
