verb. (old colloquial: now recognised).—1. To equip; to supply; to provide. [JONSON, Discoveries: one of ‘the perfumed terms of the time.’ HALLIWELL: the indefinite use is well ridiculed by Bardolph’s vain attempt to define it (see quot. 1597): cf. (modern) TO ACCOMMODATE with a loan, or with cash for a cheque.]
1597. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., iii. 2. 77. Shal. ACCOMMODATED! it comes of ‘accommodo’: very good: a good phrase. Bard. Pardon me, sir: I have heard the word … ACCOMMODATED; that is, when a man is, as they say, ACCOMMODATED; or when a man is, being, whereby a’ may be thought to be ACCOMMODATED; which is an excellent thing.
1598. JONSON, Every Man in His Humour, i. 4. Hostess, ACCOMMODATE us with another bed-staff here quickly. Lend us another bed-staffe—the woman does not understand the words of action. Ibid. (1601), The Poetaster, iii. 1. Here’s all I have, Captain, some five and twenty; pray, sir, will you present and ACCOMMODATE it unto the gentleman?
1627. Lisander and Calister, iii. 43. To goe unto Paris to ACCOMMODATE him there of such things as were most necessary.
1672. JORDAN, London Triumphant [HEATH, Grocers’ Comp. (1860), 489]. Three score and six poor men, pensioners, ACCOMMODATED with Gowns and Caps.
1725. DEFOE, New Voyage Round the World (1840), 269. We had wax candles brought in to ACCOMMODATE us with light.
1794. WILLIAMS, The Natural and Civil History of Vermont, 94. His hind feet are ACCOMMODATED with webs.
1847. HALLIWELL, A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, etc., s.v. ACCOMMODATE. A very fashionable word in Shakespeare’s time, ridiculed both by him and Ben Jonson.
2. (old).—See quot.
1823. GROSE, Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [EGAN], s.v. ACCOMMODATE or ACCOMMODATION. In the Sporting World it is to part a bet, or to let a person go halves (that is to ACCOMMODATE him) in a bet that is likely to come off successful. It is, also, in an ironical manner, to believe a person when you are well assured he is uttering a lie; by observing you believe what he is saying, merely to ACCOMMODATE him.
3. (venery).—TO SERVE (q.v.) a woman: see GREENS and RIDE. Also LADY OF ACCOMMODATING MORALS = a prostitute: see TART; ACCOMMODATION HOUSE = a BED-HOUSE (q.v.).
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. AUNT … an ACCOMMODATION-HOUSE, where half-modest women resort, as to a relative or aunt’s. Ibid. TUBBS (Mrs.)—any lady who’s home is ‘an ACCOMMODATION’ to persons whose desire of seclusion is temporary.
