accessory vs main

accessory

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. 

noun
  • 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. 

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

main

verb
  • To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game. 

noun
  • That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross. 

  • The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character. 

  • The high seas. 

  • A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main. 

  • A banker's shovel for coins. 

adv
  • Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much. 

adj
  • Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal. 

  • Big; angry. 

  • Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part. 

  • Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel. 

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