Etymology From Middle English accesse, acces, borrowed from Middle French acces (“attack, onslaught”) or from its source Latin accessus, perfect passive participle of accēdō (“approach; accede”), from ad (“to, toward, at”) + cēdō (“move, yield”). Doublet of accessus. First attested in the early 14th century. The sense "entrance" was first attested about 1380.
A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.
The door provides access to the premises.
All access was thronged.1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2
The act of approaching or entering; an advance.
They gained access to the basement from the stairs.
3
The right or ability of approaching or entering; admittance; admission; accessibility.
Staff prevent unauthorized access to the building.
4
The quality of being easy to approach or enter.
ease of access
I did repel his fetters, and denied His access to me.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
1 more example
Coalition plans to widen access to university will fail to get to the 'root cause' of the problem, according to the Russell Group.2011 September 20, Graeme Paton, “University access plan 'will fail', says Russell Group”, in Telegraph:
5
Admission to sexual intercourse.
During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown.1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC:
I, from the influence of thy looks, receive access in every virtue.1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
7
An onset, attack, or fit of disease; an ague fit.
The first access looked like an apoplexy.a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, edited by [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC:
Then he resumed the pose, the decent pose, from which the sudden access of his old trouble had startled him, his hands on his knees, […]1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
8
An outburst of an emotion; a paroxysm; a fit of passion.
The Magpie's flashlight, as he shifted it from his right hand to his left and wrenched out his revolver, had fallen upon two men crouched close against the wall by the library door—and he screamed out in an access of fury. "De double cross! A plant! De bulls! You damned snitch, Larry!" screamed out the Magpie—and fired.1917, Frank L. Packard, chapter 15, in The Adventures of Jimmie Dale:
It appears that, about the middle of the fourth century of the Christian Era, the Germans in the Roman service started the new practice of retaining their native names; and this change of etiquette, which seems to have been abrupt, points to a sudden access of self-confidence and self-assurance in the souls of the barbarian personnel which had previously been content to 'go Roman' without reservations.1946, Arnold J. Toynbee, A Study of History (Abridgement of Volumes I-VI by D.C. Somervell)
9
Law The right of a noncustodial parent to visit their child.
Operations on C++ volatiles do put the compiler on notice that the object may be modified asynchronously, and hence are generally safer to use than ordinary variable accesses.2011, Victor Pankratius, Ali-Reza Adl-Tabatabai, Walter Tichy, Fundamentals of Multicore Software Development, page 74:
11
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Networking, Physical sciences, Sciences Connection to or communication with a computer program or to the Internet.
The value of having in-house medical expertise is that staff with poor attendance records who have difficulty accessing NHS services can receive support from their employer, to help reduce absenteeism brought about by medical conditions.2023 December 13, 'Industry Insider', “Delivering a robust timetable”, in RAIL, number 998, page 68: