I. To fit one thing or person to another.
† 1. To apply fittingly (a thing to a person); to attribute or ascribe, by way of explanation, or from inherent fitness. Obs.
1531. Elyot, Governor (1834), 174. This sentence is … supposed to have been first spoken by Chilo. Others do accommodate it to Apollo.
1676. J. Owen, Wor. God, 133. Many names … are equally accommodated unto all that are partakers of it, as Elders, Bishops.
2. To adapt, fit, suit or adjust (one thing or person to another) either actually or in idea.
1588. Whitehorne, Machiauels Arte of Warre, 104 b. [He] must accommodate himselfe with the situation.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., ix. 335. The Political Institutions of Moses were accommodated to the circumstances of Affairs.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 210. Accomodate himself to the men on board.
1831. Scott, Peveril, iv. 60. I would fain accommodate myself to your scruples.
1856. Brewster, Mart. of Sc., III. ii. (ed. 3), 184. Kepler likewise observed the power of accommodating the eye to different distances.
† 3. intr. (by omission of refl. pron.) To adapt oneself to. Obs.
1597. Bacon, Coulers of Good & Evill, x. 153. Keepe the minde in suspence from settling and accomodating in patience and resolution.
1677. Governm. Venice, 72. Cato … knew not how to accommodate to the propensity of the age.
4. To show the adaptation or correspondence of one thing to another; to make a statement fit with facts or vice versâ; to make consistent, to harmonize; to adapt by analogy, or by ‘humoring’ an account or statement. (Often used in the sense of producing an artificial or surface harmony.) Const. to, (with, unto obs.).
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Morals, 17. Ponder well the intention of Poëts, unto which they addresse & accommodate their verses.
1655–60. T. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 75. To accommodate this time with our account is neither easie nor certain.
1760. Jortin, Life of Erasmus, II. 226. Erasmus suspected that this MS. had been accommodated by the Transcriber to the Latin Version.
1860. Trench, Serm. in Westm., Abbey, ix. 93. The words … were not accommodated to Christ, but were most truly fulfilled in Him.
II. To fit things (sc. to each other).
5. To adjust, reconcile (things or persons that differ), and hence, to compose, settle (their difference); to bring to harmony or agreement.
1597. Daniel, Civile Wares, VIII. lxv. Repaire to us, who will accomodate this businesse.
1677. Governm. Venice, 53. The Senat found some way or other of interposing, under colour of accommodating their Quarrel.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Galenist, At present, the Galenists and chemists are pretty well accommodated.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writings (1859), I. 562. It is uncertain how far we should have been able to accommodate our opinions.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 667. At length the dispute had been accommodated.
6. Hence (with obj. indefinitely represented by it), To accommodate it: to settle or compromise matters.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 30 Nov. The King will accommodate it by committing my Lord Clarendon himself.
7. intr. (by entire suppression of object) To settle differences, to come to terms.
1648. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 12. Either they must accommodate with His Majesty, or resolve to despatch with monarchy.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 60. I hardly expect that we can accommodate.
1801. T. Freemantle, in Dk. of Buckingham’s Crt. George III., III. 154/2. I hope we shall accommodate with the Danes.
† III. To fit a thing (sc. for its proper uses). Obs.
† 8. To fit or equip (a thing for use); to put in order; hence, to repair, refit, mend. (Fr. raccommoder.) Obs.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia (1629), 61. The rest of the day we spent in accommodating our boat.
1763–5. Smollett, Travels, 311. One of the irons of the coach gave way … we were detained two hours before it could be accommodated.
1812. Henry, Camp. agst. Quebec, 143. We found it well accommodated for our lodgment.
† 9. To fit (a person, for any duty or position); to meeten. Obs.
1658. Sir H. Slingsby, Diary (1836), 211. You shall every day get by heart some new lesson, that may season and accommodate you.
† 10. To minister convenience to; to aid, speed, facilitate. Obs.
1634. Massinger, Very Woman, IV. ii. One o’ the slaves he lately bought … To accommodate his cure.
1690. Locke, Hum. Underst. (1727), I. II. xxiii. § 12. 129. We are able … several ways to accommodate the Exigencies of this Life.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 36. To accomodate the passage you have a path.
IV. To fit (a person with the understood requisites of the occasion).
11. To furnish (a person with [of obs.] something requisite or convenient); to equip, supply, provide. Now usually with the sense of doing it to suit a person’s felt requirements. (An obs. and rare const. is to accommodate a thing to a person.)
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 72. A Souldier is better accommodated, then with a Wife.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum. (1616), I. x. 17. Hostesse, accommodate vs with another bed-staffe. Ibid., Poetaster, iii. 4 (Nares). Will you present and accomodate it to the gentleman.
1627. Lisander & Calista, III. 43. To goe unto Paris to accommodate him there of such things as were most necessary.
1672. Jordan, Lond. Triumph., in Heath’s Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 489. Three score and six poor men, pensioners, accommodated with Gowns and Caps.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 269. We had wax candles brought in to accomodate us with light.
1794. S. Williams, Hist. Vermont, 94. His hind feet are accommodated with webs.
Mod. Can you accommodate me with cash for a cheque?
12. simply. To suit, oblige, convenience.
1663. Cogan, Voy. & Adv. of Pinto, lxxix. 321. If it were such as would accommodate us, he would desire us to buy it.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 73. Ingenious fancy, never better pleas’d Than when employ’d t’ accomodate the fair.
1861. George Eliot, Silas M., 24. I was willing to accommodate you by undertaking to sell the horse.
13. esp. To furnish or supply with suitable room and entertainment; to make room for, entertain suitably; to receive as an inmate.
1715. Burnet, Hist. own Time (1766), I. 81. How the King would be accommodated if he came among them.
1772. Hist. Rochester, 17. The honour of accommodating her (the Queen) at his house.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rud. (C. D. ed.), lviii. 273. The cell … having recently accommodated a drunken deserter, was by no means clean.
