according

1. 1
   grantingverb

   Present participle and gerund of accord.

   The new charter, according equal rights to every citizen, was signed at noon.

   According him the chairmanship surprised the older members of the council.

   Note

   One verb lends this form two quite different jobs. When it grants something, it takes an object, and often a second one too: according him the chairmanship, according equal rights to every citizen. When it means agreeing or being in harmony, it stands alone, as when Tennyson in 1850 writes of mind and soul "according well". An object signals granting; no object, often with well, signals agreement. Source

   Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

   • Tennyson wrote of mind and soul “according well” in the prologue to In Memoriam. en.wikisource.org
   • 1850 is the first-publication year of the work containing the quotation. en.wikisource.org
2. 2
   to matchadverbobsolete

   In a corresponding or fitting manner; accordingly.

   That apprehends no further than this world, / And squarest thy life according.

   1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

   Note

   Shakespeare still uses the bare adverb in Measure for Measure, "squarest thy life according", where a modern writer would put accordingly. It comes at the end of the clause, after its verb, and fits conduct to a standard already named. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • Shakespeare uses the bare adverb according in Measure for Measure, in the quoted phrase. en.wiktionary.org
   • According occurs at the end of its clause, after the verb. gutenberg.org
   • The passage describes conduct corresponding to the previously stated outlook limited to this world. gutenberg.org

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