Etimology
First attested about 1380. From Middle English accepten, borrowed from Old French accepter, or directly from Latin acceptō, acceptāre (“receive”), frequentative of accipiō, formed from ad- + capiō (“to take”). Displaced native Old English onfōn.
verb
accept (third-person singular simple present accepts, present participle accepting, simple past and past participle accepted)
(transitive) To receive, especially with a consent, with favour, or with approval.
(transitive) To admit to a place or a group.
(transitive) To regard as proper, usual, true, or to believe in.
(transitive) To receive as adequate or satisfactory.
(transitive) To receive or admit to; to agree to; to assent to; to submit to.
(transitive) To endure patiently.
(transitive) To acknowledge patiently without opposition or resistance.
(transitive, law, business) To agree to pay.
(transitive) To receive officially.
(intransitive) To receive something willingly.
Examples
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice.
The Chinese say, that a little time afterwards she accepted of a treat in one of the neighbouring hills to which Shalum had invited her.
I bid thee banish from thy heart all thought of me, but as one whom the Future cries aloud to thee to avoid. Glyndon, if thou acceptest his homage, will love thee till the tomb closes upon both.
The Boy Scouts were going to accept him as a member.
I accept the notion that Christ lived.
I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
I accept my punishment.
We need to accept the fact that restaurants are closed due to COVID-19 and that no amount of wishing or screaming will make them reopen any sooner.
to accept the report of a committee
Related words
antonyms
(receive with approval): reject, decline
related terms
acceptability
acceptable
acceptableness
acceptably
acceptance
acceptancy
acceptant
acceptation
acceptilation
acception
acceptor
adjective
accept (comparative more accept, superlative most accept)
(Early Modern, obsolete) Accepted.
Examples
Pass our accept and peremptory answer.