Websters Dictionary 1828
This online edition has been carefully prepared in a special format. All words, definitions, and examples have been preserved, but the explanations of word origins have been left out to make the data easier to use in a digital format. We have also removed Webster's long technical introduction for the same reason.
Scripture references have been converted to a modern format, and many abbreviations have been expanded to make them easier to understand.
According
ACCORD'ING, participle present tense
1. Agreeing; harmonizing.
Th' according music of a well mixt state.
2. Suitable; agreeable; in accordance with.
In these senses, the word agrees with or refers to a sentence.
Our zeal should be according to knowledge.
Noble is the fame that is built on candor and ingenuity, according to those beautiful lines of Sir John Denham.
Here the whole preceding parts of the sentence are to accord, i.e. agree with, correspond with, or be suitable to, what follows. according here, has its true participial sense, agreeing, and is always followed by to. It is never a preposition.
First Occurrence in the Bible(KJV): Genesis 6:22