accept

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to tolerate or accommodate oneself to

   I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions.

2. 2
   verb

   to consider or hold as true

   I cannot accept the dogma of this church.

3. 3
   verb

   to be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal

   The cow accepted the bull.

4. 4
   verb

   to react favorably to

   I accepted the offer.

5. 5
   verb

   to give an affirmative reply to

   I accepted the offer right there on the spot.

6. 6
   verb

   to receive officially, as a report from a committee

   The council accepted my document on how to improve attendance.

7. 7
   verb

   to receive willingly something given or offered

   I accept your apology.

8. 8
   verb

   to admit into a group or community

   Our university accepts students for graduate study in philosophy.

Etymology

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.