An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. To have the right to connect to a computer or a server and retrieve information.
   
2. The act or instance of accessing a computer.

Etymology (EN): M.E. accesse, from O.Fr. acces “onslaught,” from L. accessus “a coming to, an approach,” p.p. of accedere “to approach, enter upon” from → ad- “to” + cedere “go, move.”

Etymology (PE): Dastrasi “access,” from dast “hand” (Mid.Pers. dast; O.Pers. dasta-; Av. zasta-; cf. Skt. hásta-; Gk. kheir; L. praesto “at hand;” Arm. jern “hand;” Lith. pa-žastis “arm-pit;” PIE *ghes-to-) + rasi, verbal noun of rasidan “to attain; to arrive” (Mid.Pers. rasidan “to arrive, to mature;” O.Pers./Av. rasa- present stem of ar- “to move, go or come toward;” cf. Skt. ar-, rcchati “reaches;”
Gk. erkhomai “to go, to reach;” L. oriri “to rise”);
dâštan “to have, hold, maintain, possess” (Mid.Pers. dâštan; O.Pers./Av. root dar- “to hold, keep back, maitain, keep in mind;” cf.
Skt. dhr-, dharma- “law;”
Gk. thronos “elevated seat, throne;” L. firmus “firm, stable;” Lith. daryti “to make;” PIE *dher- “to hold, support”).