Obs. Forms: 4 acountour, acounter; 6–7 accompter, accounter. [Prob. a. OFr. acuntour, acontour (not in Godefr.), n. of agent f. acunter: see ACCOUNT v. and -OUR.]
1. One who accounts, reckons, calculates, renders an account.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5410. Lordynges cunseylours Wykkede legystrys or fals acountours.
1540. Whitinton, Tullyes Off., I. 27. That we may be as good accompters of our offyces and dutyes.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, viii. 92. It is not for me to stand here disproouing the doubts of the Accounters of times.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Contador, an accounter, a receiuer of the exchequer, computator, quæstor.
1601. Cornwallyes, Ess. (1631), II. li. 328. Hee that can make so even a reckoning is none of the worst Accompters.
1633. Stafford, Pac. Hib. (1821), x. 343. The Accounter, the Steward of the artillery remayning.
2. A narrator.
1356. Wyclif, Last Age, 26. Þis also [he] schewiþ openly bi discripcioun of tyme, of Eusebi, Bede, and Haymound, most preued of acounteris, or talkeris.
