Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - access

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French acces, from Latin ~us approach, from accedere to approach — more at accede  Date: 14th century  1.  a. onset 2  b. a fit of intense feeling ; outburst  2.  a. permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing  b. freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something  c. a way or means of ~  d. the act or an instance of ~ing  3. an increase by addition a sudden ~ of wealth  II. transitive verb  Date: 1962 to get at ; gain ~ to ~ed the computer by phone