Accompaniment
/əˈkʌmpənɪmənt/
Definitions
The act of performing music together with another performer, especially to provide support or support to a main performance.
/əˈkʌmpənɪmənt/
A consonant or supportive musical part performed simultaneously with another part or principal performer.
She played the harp as accompaniment to the singers.
💡 Simply: Supportive music played with another performer.
More Examples
The band provided live accompaniment for the dance troupe.
How It's Used
"The pianist provided a lovely accompaniment to the singer."
"The ballet troupe performed to an elegant accompaniment of classical music."
Idioms & expressions
accompanying someone
To be present with and provide support to someone in an activity or event.
"The band provided an accompanying performance for the wedding ceremony."
The word comes from the Middle French 'accompagnement' in the 14th century, deriving from the verb 'accompagner,' which means 'to accompany.' The root 'ac-' is a prefix meaning 'with,' and 'compania' means 'company' or 'escort,' both of which trace back to Latin.
The word has been used since the 14th century, initially in the context of musical performance and later extended to other supportive actions. It was primarily associated with music in historical texts, but over time, it has taken on more general meanings of support.
Memory tip
Think of it as “company” in music.