compt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ObsoleteHistorical, Archaic, Poetic, Highly Formal
Quick answer
What does “compt” mean?
An obsolete or archaic term for an account, reckoning, or audit, or the act of settling such an account.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An obsolete or archaic term for an account, reckoning, or audit, or the act of settling such an account.
A historical or formal term for a statement of financial dealings; can also refer to a counting or calculation. It survives chiefly in historical or highly formal/poetic contexts and in the phrase 'non compos mentis' (not of sound mind), though 'compt' itself is not used in modern legal terminology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally obsolete in both varieties. No significant modern difference in usage.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of antiquity, formality, and the language of Shakespeare or earlier legal/financial documents.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in both corpora. Might be marginally more recognized in the UK due to greater exposure to Shakespearean texts, but this is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “compt” in a Sentence
to compt (something) [archaic verb]to keep compt of (something)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “compt” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The steward shall compt all revenues quarterly.
- I do compt the minutes till we meet again.
American English
- The treasurer was tasked to compt the colony's expenses.
- He did compt the stars, a futile endeavour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts. Purely historical.
Academic
Only used when quoting or analyzing historical texts, especially from the Early Modern English period.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Not used in any modern technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “compt”
- Attempting to use it in modern writing.
- Pronouncing the 'p' (it is silent, like in 'empty').
- Confusing it with 'contempt'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic or obsolete variant of 'count' or 'account'. It is not used in contemporary English outside of historical references.
It is pronounced identically to 'count' (/kaʊnt/) when used as a verb. As a noun related to 'account', it was historically pronounced like 'compt' with a silent 'p', similar to 'prompt'.
No. You should only be able to recognize it as an archaic form if you encounter it in very old texts (like Shakespeare). For all modern purposes, use 'count' or 'account'.
'Comptroller' is a variant spelling of 'controller', influenced by an erroneous association with the French 'compte' (account). It is a separate word, though both share a historical link to accounting. 'Comptroller' is still used in some official job titles.
An obsolete or archaic term for an account, reckoning, or audit, or the act of settling such an account.
Compt is usually historical, archaic, poetic, highly formal in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMPTroller' (an old spelling of 'controller', often pronounced /ˈkɒntroʊlər/), which is related to financial oversight, or remember it as the archaic twin of 'COUNT'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCOUNTING IS STORYTELLING (a 'compt' is a narrative of financial transactions).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'compt' be most appropriately used today?