English

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Etymology

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From French accompagnement; equivalent to accompany +‎ -ment. First attested in 1744.

Pronunciation

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  • enPR: ə-kŭmʹpə-nē-mənt, IPA(key): /əˈkʌm.pə.ni.mənt/, /əˈkʌmp.ni.mənt/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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accompaniment (countable and uncountable, plural accompaniments)

  1. (music) A part, usually performed by instruments, that gives support or adds to the background in music, or adds for ornamentation; also, the harmony of a figured bass.
    Synonym: comping
    Brooks performed a saxophone solo on stage, with Robert as accompaniment on the bass.
  2. That which accompanies; something that attends as a circumstance, or which is added to give greater completeness to the principal thing, or by way of ornament, or for the sake of symmetry.
    Synonyms: attachment, supplement; see also Thesaurus:adjunct
    A side salad is a common accompaniment to a main dish.
    • 1952 February, H. C. Casserley, “Permanent Wayfarings”, in Railway Magazine, page 77:
      My audience to this not-too-easy operation was a small group of Scottish school lasses, who seemed (perhaps naturally) to find the proceedings somewhat mysterious, but at any rate amusing. I wished they would go away, but they didn't, so I had to get on with the job to the accompaniment of a background of giggles!

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
  NODES
Note 1
Verify 4