The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Account \Ac*count"\, n. [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF.
   acont, fr. aconter. See Account, v. t., Count, n., 1.]
   1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a
      record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
      [1913 Webster]

            A beggarly account of empty boxes.    --Shak.
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   2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed
      statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and
      also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review;
      as, to keep one's account at the bank.
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   3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc.,
      explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has
      been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often
      used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive,
      etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all
      accounts.
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   4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of
      transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a
      description; as, an account of a battle. "A laudable
      account of the city of London." --Howell.
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   5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's
      conduct with reference to judgment thereon.
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            Give an account of thy stewardship.   --Luke xvi. 2.
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   6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. "To stand
      high in your account." --Shak.
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   7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. "Men of
      account." --Pope. "To turn to account." --Shak.
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   Account current, a running or continued account between two
      or more parties, or a statement of the particulars of such
      an account.

   In account with, in a relation requiring an account to be
      kept.

   On account of, for the sake of; by reason of; because of.


   On one's own account, for one's own interest or behalf.

   To make account, to have an opinion or expectation; to
      reckon. [Obs.]
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            This other part . . . makes account to find no
            slender arguments for this assertion out of those
            very scriptures which are commonly urged against it.
                                                  --Milton.
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   To make account of, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as,
      he makes small account of beauty.

   To take account of, or to take into account, to take into
      consideration; to notice. "Of their doings, God takes no
      account."                                   --Milton
      .

   A writ of account (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings
      demanding that the defendant shall render his just
      account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called
      also an action of account. --Cowell.
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   Syn: Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description;
        explanation; rehearsal.

   Usage: Account, Narrative, Narration, Recital. These
          words are applied to different modes of rehearsing a
          series of events. Account turns attention not so
          much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more
          properly applies to the report of some single event,
          or a group of incidents taken as whole; as, an
          account of a battle, of a shipwreck, etc. A
          narrative is a continuous story of connected
          incidents, such as one friend might tell to another;
          as, a narrative of the events of a siege, a
          narrative of one's life, etc. Narration is usually
          the same as narrative, but is sometimes used to
          describe the mode of relating events; as, his powers
          of narration are uncommonly great. Recital denotes
          a series of events drawn out into minute particulars,
          usually expressing something which peculiarly
          interests the feelings of the speaker; as, the
          recital of one's wrongs, disappointments,
          sufferings, etc.
          [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Account \Ac*count"\, v. i.
   1. To render or receive an account or relation of
      particulars; as, an officer must account with or to the
      treasurer for money received.
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   2. To render an account; to answer in judgment; -- with for;
      as, we must account for the use of our opportunities.
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   3. To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to
      explain; -- with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty.
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   To account of, to esteem; to prize; to value. Now used only
      in the passive. "I account of her beauty." --Shak.
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            Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the
            sixteenth century.                    --Canon
                                                  Robinson.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Account \Ac*count"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accounted; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Accounting.] [OE. acounten, accompten, OF. aconter,
   [`a] (L. ad) + conter to count. F. conter to tell, compter to
   count, L. computare. See Count, v. t.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To reckon; to compute; to count. [Obs.]
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            The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are
            accounted.                            --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
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   2. To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to
      assign; -- with to. [R.] --Clarendon.
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   3. To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or
      consider; to deem.
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            Accounting that God was able to raise him up. --Heb.
                                                  xi. 19.
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   4. To recount; to relate. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

account
    n 1: a record or narrative description of past events; "a
         history of France"; "he gave an inaccurate account of the
         plot to kill the president"; "the story of exposure to
         lead" [syn: history, account, chronicle, story]
    2: a short account of the news; "the report of his speech"; "the
       story was on the 11 o'clock news"; "the account of his speech
       that was given on the evening news made the governor furious"
       [syn: report, news report, story, account, write
       up]
    3: a formal contractual relationship established to provide for
       regular banking or brokerage or business services; "he asked
       to see the executive who handled his account" [syn:
       account, business relationship]
    4: a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing
       the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.;
       "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief
       account" [syn: explanation, account]
    5: grounds; "don't do it on my account"; "the paper was rejected
       on account of its length"; "he tried to blame the victim but
       his success on that score was doubtful" [syn: score,
       account]
    6: importance or value; "a person of considerable account"; "he
       predicted that although it is of small account now it will
       rapidly increase in importance"
    7: a statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance;
       "they send me an accounting every month" [syn: account,
       accounting, account statement]
    8: the act of informing by verbal report; "he heard reports that
       they were causing trouble"; "by all accounts they were a
       happy couple" [syn: report, account]
    9: an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or
       services rendered; "he paid his bill and left"; "send me an
       account of what I owe" [syn: bill, account, invoice]
    10: the quality of taking advantage; "she turned her writing
        skills to good account"
    v 1: be the sole or primary factor in the existence,
         acquisition, supply, or disposal of something; "Passing
         grades account for half of the grades given in this exam"
    2: keep an account of [syn: account, calculate]
    3: to give an account or representation of in words; "Discreet
       Italian police described it in a manner typically
       continental" [syn: report, describe, account]
    4: furnish a justifying analysis or explanation; "I can't
       account for the missing money" [syn: account, answer for]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

251 Moby Thesaurus words for "account":
   a reckoning of, account current, account for, account of,
   account rendered, account stated, accounting, accounts,
   acquaintance, acta, adjudge, adjudicate, advantage, aggregate,
   allow, allow for, allowance, amount, anecdotage, anecdote, annals,
   announcement, annual, answer for, approbation, approval,
   assessment, balance, bank account, bank balance, be judicious,
   benefit, bill, bill of account, bill of fare, bill of lading,
   blackmail, blood money, blue book, body count, books, box score,
   brief, briefing, bulletin, calculation, capitulation, carte,
   cash account, cast, catalog, census, census report, charge account,
   check, check of, checking account, chronicle, communication,
   communique, computation, consequence, consider, consideration,
   control account, conversion factor, correspondence, count,
   count of, credit, credit account, data, datum, deem, description,
   difference, directory, dispatch, documentation, dun,
   election returns, emolument, enlightenment, enumeration, epic,
   epos, esteem, estimation, evidence, exercise judgment,
   expense account, explain, explanation, express an opinion, face,
   face value, facts, factual information, familiarization, favor,
   fee, footing, form an opinion, gen, general information, guidebook,
   handout, hard information, head count, history, hold, honor,
   hush money, importance, incidental information, income account,
   info, information, initiation fee, instruction, intelligence,
   interest, inventory, invoice, itemized bill, judge, justify,
   knowledge, ledger, letters, light, list, manifest, market value,
   memorial, mention, menu, merit, message, mileage, minutes,
   narration, narrative, net worth, nose count, note, notice,
   notification, number, par value, pennyworth, pine, pipe roll,
   presentation, presume, proceedings, product, profit,
   promotional material, proof, provision account, publication,
   publicity, quantity, rate, recapitulation, recital, reckoning,
   record, recording, recount, recounting, regard, register, registry,
   rehearsal, relation, release, relic, remains, repertory, report,
   respect, retainer, retaining fee, returns, revenue account, roll,
   rolls, roster, rota, running account, saga, sake, sales account,
   savings account, score, scot, scroll, selling account, sidelight,
   significance, standing, statement, stipend, stock account, story,
   sum, summary, summation, summing, summing up, suppose,
   suspense account, tab, table, tabs of, take into consideration,
   take note of, tale, tally, tally of, the bottom line, the dope,
   the goods, the know, the record, the scoop, the story,
   the whole story, think of, token, total, trace, track of,
   transactions, transmission, tribute, use, valuation account, value,
   value received, vestige, white book, white paper, whole, word,
   worth, x number, yarn, yearbook



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

ACCOUNT, remedies. This is the name of a writ or action more properly called
account render.
     2. It is applicable to the, case of an unliquidated demand, against a
person who is chargeable as bailiff or receiver. The use of it, is where the
plaintiff wants an account and cannot give evidence of his right without it.
5 Taunt. 431  It is necessary where the receipt was directed to a
merchandising which makes all uncertainty of the net remain, till the
account is finished; or where a man is charged as bailiff, whereupon the
certainty of his receipt appears not till account. Hob. 209.; See also 8
Cowen, R. 304; 9 Conn. R. 556; 2 Day, R. 28; Kirby, 164; 3 Gill & John. 388;
3 Verm. 485; 4 Watts, 420; 8 Cowen, 220. It is also the proper remedy by one
partner against another. 15 S. & R. 153 3 Binn. 317; 10 S. & R. 220; 2 Conn.
425; 4 Verm. 137; 1 Dall. 340; 2 Watts 86.
     3. The interlocutory judgment in this action is (quod computet) that
the defendant render an account upon which judgment auditors are assigned to
him to hear and report his account. (See I Lutwych, 47; 3 Leon. 149, for
precedents)  As the principal object of the action is to compel a settlement
of the account in the first instance, special bail cannot be demanded, (2
Roll. Rep. 53; 2 Keble, 404,) nor are damages awarded upon the first
judgment, nor given except ratione interplacitationis, (Cro. Eliz. 83; 5
Binn. 664; 24 Ed. 3. 16; 18 Ed. 3. 55; Reg. Brev. 136 b,) although it is
usual to conclude the count with a demand of damages. (Lib. Int. fo. 16. fo.
20; 1 Lutw. 51. 58; 2 H. 7. 13.) The reason assigned for this rule, is, that
it may be the defendant will not be found in arrears after he has accounted,
and the court cannot know until the settlement of the account whether the
plaintiff has been endamaged or not. 7 H. 6. 38.
     4. This action combines the properties of a legal and equitable action.

The proceedings up to the judgment quod computet, and subsequent to the
account reported by the auditors are conducted upon the principles of the
common law.  But the account is to be adjusted upon the most liberal
principles of equity and, good faith. (Per Herle, Ch. J. 3 Ed. 3. 10.) The
court it is said are judges of the action - the auditors of the account,
Bro. Ab. Ace. 48, and both are judges of record, 4 H. 6. 17; Stat. West. 2.
c. 11.  This action has received extension in Pennsylvania. 1 Dall. 339,
340.
     5. The fist judgment (quod computet) is enforced by a capias ad
computandum where defendant refuses to appear before the auditors, upon
which he may be held to bail, or in default of bail be made to account in
prison.  The final judgment quod recuperet is enforced by fi. fa. or such
other process  as the law allows for the recovery of debts.
     6. If the defendant charged as bailiff is found in surplusage, no
judgment can be entered thereon to recover the amount so found in his favor
against the plaintiff, but as the auditors are judges of record, he may
bring an action of debt, or by some authorities a sci. fac. against the
plaintiff, whereon he may have judgment and execution against the plaintiff.
See Palm. 512; 2 Bulst. 277-8; 1 Leon. 219; 3 Keble Rep. 362; 1 Roll. Ab.
599, pl. 11; Bro. Ab. Acc. 62; 1 Roll. Rep. 87. See Bailiff, in account
render.
     7. In those states where they have courts of chancery, this action is
nearly superseded by the better remedy which is given by a bill in equity,
by which the complainant can elicit a discovery of the acts from the
defendant under his oath, instead of relying merely on the evidence he may
be able to produce. 9 John. R. 470; 1 Paige, R. 41; 2 Caines' Cas. Err. 38,
62; 1 J. J. Marsh. R. 82; Cooke, R. 420; 1 Yerg. R. 360; 2 John. Ch. R. 424;
10 John. R. 587; 2 Rand. R. 449; 1 Hen. & M9; 2 M'Cord's Ch. R. 469; 2
Leigh's R. 6.
     8. Courts of equity have concurrent jurisdiction in matters of account
with courts of law, and sometimes exclusive jurisdiction at least in some
respects: For example; if a plaintiff be entitled to an account, a court of
equity will restrain the defendant from proceeding in a claim, the
correctness of which cannot be ascertained until the account be taken; but
not where the subject is a matter of set-off. 1 Sch. & Lef. 309; Eden on
Injunct. 23, 24.
     9. When an account has voluntarily been stated between parties, an
action of assumpsit may be maintained thereon. 3 Bl. Com. 162; 8 Com. Dig.
7; 1 Com. Dig. 180; 2 Ib. 468; 1 Vin. Ab. 135; Bac. Ab. h.t.; Doct. Pl. 26;
Yelv. 202; 1 Supp. to Ves. Jr, 117; 2 Ib. 48, 136. Vide 1 Binn. R. 191; 4
Dall. R. 434; Whart. Dig. h.t. ; 3 Wils. 73, 94; 8 D.& R. 596; Bull. N. P.
128; 5 Taunt.  431; U. S. Dig. h.t.; 2 Greenl. Ev. Sec. 34-39.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

ACCOUNT, practice. A statement of the receipts and payments of an executor,
administrator, or other trustee, of the estate confided to him.
     2. Every one who administers the affairs of another is required at the
end of his administration to render an account of his management of the
same.  Trustees of every description can, in general, be compelled by courts
of chancery to settle accounts, or otherwise fully execute their trusts.
Where there are no courts of chancery, the courts of common law are usually
invested with power for the same purposes by acts of legislation.  When a
party has had the property of another as his agent, he may be compelled at
common law to account by an action of account render.
     3. An account is also the statement of two merchants or others who have
dealt together, showing the debits and credits between them.