accomplice
(əˈkɒmplɪs, əˈkʌmplɪs)
[f. the earlier complice. The prefixed ac- is not accounted for; it may have arisen from the indef. art. a complice, or by assimilation to accomplish; there is no analogous form in L. or Fr.]
An associate in guilt, a partner in crime. Const. of; also with the criminal, in (to obs.) the crime.
| 1485 Caxton Chas. the Grete (1880) 164, I shal make thadmyral to dye, and al hys complyces. 1589 Nashe Alm. for Parrat 5 d, Call to minde the badde practise of your brother the Booke-binder and his accomplishes at Burie. 1596 Spenser State Irel. 20 And many the like of others his accomplices and fellow-traytors. 1692 Dryden St. Euremont's Ess. 319 He was a friend of Cataline's and a secret accomplice of his Crime. 1732 T. Lediard Life of Sethos II. vii. 43 Thou who has been accomplice with the thieves and murtherers. 1735–8 Bolingbroke Diss. on Parties 152 We cannot lose..our Constitution, unless We are Accomplices to the Violations of it. 1853 H. Rogers Ecl. Faith 158 To permit any evils which we can prevent is in like manner to be accomplices in the crime. 1860 W. Collins Wom. in White ii. ii. 181 English society is as often the accomplice as it is the enemy of crime. |
2. rare and perh. only playfully, in a sense not bad.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. 2. 9 Successe vnto our valiant Generall, And happinesse to his accomplices. c 1860 Wraxall tr. R. Houdin vii. 96 In the mean while be kind anough to act as my accomplice. |