accessory vs adapter

accessory

noun
  • A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator. 

  • Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment. 

  • Something in a work of art without being indispensably necessary, for example solely ornamental parts. 

  • An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves. 

adj
  • Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; contributing or being contributory. Said of things and actions, very rarely of people (and then usually in a humorous version of the legal sense [or due to confusion between the noun and the adjective]). 

  • Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal. 

  • Present in a minor amount, and not essential. 

adapter

noun
  • One who is capable of adapting to differing situations. 

  • One who adapts a thing, e.g. a play. 

  • Specifically, a device that allows one format of plug to be used with a different format of socket. 

  • Specifically, an AC adapter: a device that reduces voltage and converts AC to DC to allow a battery-powered device to use mains power. 

  • A device or application used to achieve operative compatibility between devices that otherwise are incompatible. 

  • Specifically, a device that permits two, three, or more plugs to be used at a single electrical power point. 

How often have the words accessory and adapter occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )