1. [adj]  (followed by `to') as reported or stated by; "according to historians"
2. [adj]  (followed by `to') in agreement with or accordant with; "according to instructions"

ACCORDING is a 9 letter word that starts with A.

1. \Ac*cord"ing\, p. a.
   Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious. ``This
   according voice of national wisdom.'' --Burke. ``Mind and
   soul according well.'' --Tennyson.
         According to him, every person was to be bought.
                                                  --Macaulay.
         Our zeal should be according to knowledge. --Sprat.
   Note: According to has been called a prepositional phrase,
         but strictly speaking, according is a participle in the
         sense of agreeing, acceding, and to alone is the
         preposition.
   {According as}, precisely as; the same as; corresponding to
      the way in which. According as is an adverbial phrase, of
      which the propriety has been doubted; but good usage
      sanctions it. See {According}, adv.
            Is all things well, According as I gave directions?
                                                  --Shak.
            The land which the Lord will give you according as
            he hath promised.                     --Ex. xii. 25.
   

2. \Ac*cord"ing\, adv.
   Accordingly; correspondingly. [Obs.] --Shak.