[f. prec. (or on analogy of vbs. so formed); with pple. accumulated, in presence of which the earlier participial use of accumulate went out.]
1. trans. To heap up in a mass, to pile up; to amass or collect. a. Usually fig.
1529. Wolsey, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 105. II. 11. I desyre nat thys for any mynde, God ys my jugge, that I have to accumulat good.
1541. Elyot, Im. Gouern., 8. This Zoticus … solde all the saiynges and doynges of the Emperour, intendynge to accumilate abundance of richesse.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 370. Neuer pray more: Abandon all remorse On Horrors head, Horrors accumulate. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., III. ii. 107. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated?
1692. Ray, Dissol. World, 41. I might accumulate places out of the Ancients and moderns to this purpose.
1769. Burke, State Nat., Wks. II. 82. She borrowed large sums in every year; and has thereby accumulated an immense debt.
1778. Samuel Adams, Lett to J. Warren, 23 Nov., in Warren–Adams Letters (1925), II. 67. I fear America is too unsuspecting long to continue free. Men of corrupt Principles, who seek to accumulate Honor and Wealth to themselves, to the Prejudice of the Publick, will endeavor to lull the People into Security, or, as they will call it, perfect good Humour, that they may not keep a vigilant Eye over them.
1798. Ferriar, Cert. Var. Man, 199. Pliny exerted surprising industry in accumulating authorities.
1840. Macaulay, Clive, 7. Those who lived to rise to the top of the service often accumulated considerable fortunes.
1875. Gladstone, Gleanings, VI. xxxvi. 128. To accumulate observances of ritual is to accumulate responsibility.
b. lit. (after Lat.) rare.
1809. J. Barlow, Columbiad, III. 662. Soon the young captive prince shall roll in fire, And all his race accumulate the pyre.
1880. Stanley, in Evening Standard, 24 Feb., 8/5. Had either of them fallen in that arduous struggle, their graves would have been accumulated with all the honours which the American Republic could bestow.
c. absol. (in fig. sense).
1858. J. G. Holland, Titcomb’s Lett., vii. 237. We strive to accumulate beyond our wants, and beyond the wants of our families.
2. To take (degrees) by accumulation, to take a higher degree at the same time with a lower, or at a shorter interval than is usual; as permitted at some of the English Universities; also absol.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. col. 862. He accumulated the degrees in Physick, and was afterwards honorary Fellow of the Coll. of Phys. at Lond. Ibid., I. col. 819. Rob. Moor of New Coll. who accumulated, was admitted.
1721. Amherst, Terr. Fil., Ded. 7. Doctor Wills … was strenuously opposed in taking his degree … and was by many persons denied the common favour of accumulating.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Wood gives numerous instances of Accumulators, i. e. persons who accumulated or took degrees by Accumulation, at Oxford.
3. intr. (from reflexive). To grow into a mass, quantity or number; to go on increasing. (Not in J.)
1759. Symmer, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 477, IV. 413. Setting aside the debt that must accumulate upon it.
1769. Goldsmith, Deserted Vill., 52. Ill fares the land, to hast’ning ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay.
1796. J. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 417. These funds … are fast accumulating by interest.
1816. Shelley, Alastor, 431. More dark And dark the shades accumulate.
1856. Kane, Arctic Explor., I. xx. 250. On the 26th disasters accumulated.
1866. Motley, Dutch Rep., IV. v. 627. Events were rapidly rolling together from every quarter, and accumulating to a crisis.
1868. Peard, Water-farming, xv. 157. Mud is apt to accumulate in such places.
