Account for and a lengthy examination of the word Account

Today's verbal phrase is account for.  It means to explain or, in some cases, to cause.

They had to account for all the money that had gone missing. I had to account for why I was late to work. The humidity accounts for our discomfort. His reckless driving accounted for the accident.

However, the word "account" is worth taking a closer look at.  Here is a long list of definitions for the word, many perhaps of which my readers might be familiar with, but many probably not. Here are its uses as a noun.

1) an oral or written description of particular events or situations; narrative: an account of the meetings;  

 an account of the trip was put in words and photographs by the journalist

2) an explanatory statement of conduct, as to a superior.

He had to make an account to his professor regarding his questionable thesis

3) a statement of reasons, causes, etc., explaining some event.

 The official account of the September 11 attacks is hard for me to believe

4) reason; basis:  

On account of your unwillingness to compromise on your percentage of  my company's profits, I'm refusing your offer as an investor.

5) importance; worth; value; consequence:  

Your reasons for forgetting to do what I asked are of no account.

6) estimation; judgment: 

In his account it was an excellent piece of work.

7) an amount of money deposited with a bank, as in a checking or savings account:  

My account is now with Third National.

8) Also called can accommodation or service extended by a business to a customer or client permitting the charging of goods or services, the returning for credit of unsatisfactory merchandise, etc.:  

Do you have an account at this store? My account with the restaurant is past due. I just opened an account with Face Book. com

9) a statement of financial transactions.

 Here is the account for my travel expenses

10) Bookkeeping .

a) a formal record of the debits and credits relating to the person, business, etc., named at the head of the ledger account.b) a balance of a specified period's receipts and expenditures.

11) Commerce .

a) a business relation in which credit is used. b) any customer or client, esp. one carried on a regular credit basis. c) also called advertising account. the business assigned to an advertising agency by a client:  

The toothpaste account was awarded to a new agency last year.

Here are as a verb (used with an object)

12) to regard; consider as: 

I account myself well paid.

13) to assign or impute (usually fol. by to ):  

the many virtues accounted to him.

—Idioms

14) Call to account: a) to hold accountable; blame; reprimand,b) ask for an explanation of.:  

Call them to account for having endangered their lives.

15) Give a good/bad account of, to do something or conduct oneself in a good (bad, etc.) manner:  

She gave a good account of herself at her piano recital.

16) Hold to account, to hold responsible; hold accountable or culpable:  

If any of the silver is missing, I'm going to hold you to account.

17) On account, as an installment or a partial payment:  

I can't pay the balance, but here's $10 on account.

18) on account of, (This usage is an important one):a) by reason of; because of. b) for the sake of:  

She did it on account of me. It was account of me that we were late

19) On all accounts, in any case; under any circumstances. Also, at all accounts.

On all accounts see that movie

20) On no account, under no circumstances; absolutely not: 

On no account should you purchase that painting without having it appraised.

21) take account of: a) to make allowance for; consider b) to notice or observe. Also, take into account. :  

One must take account of the difficult circumstances. Taking account of the high overhead, the price is not excessive.

22) Turn to account, to derive profit or use from; turn to advantage:  

She has turned her misfortunes to account.

Try to use the rarer usages of this word, you'll sound very intelligent!  I'm going to follow my advice here.