ACCOMMODATION, the process by which the mind is brought into adjustment with its surroundings; adaptation.
In physiology, the accommodation of the eye is the function by which objects, near or distant, may be seen distinctly. It is accomplished by the relaxing or contracting of the ciliary mus cle. See EYE.
In biology, the process by which an organism becomes adapted to its environment.
In theology, properly, the presentation of a truth not absolutely, but with some modification to suit it either to some other truth or to the person addressed. It is distinguished as formal and material, the former relating to the method of teaching, and the latter to what is taught. The former includes teaching by parables or symbols, by progressive stages graduated to the capacity of the learner, etc.; more usually, now, the forcing of texts from their obvious mean ing to conform them to theories derived from other sources. The latter, as commonly
used, means the theory that Christ and the writers of Scripture modified or perverted the truth to accommodate it to the limited intelli gence or the prejudices of their times,— the cosmogonies of Genesis, or Jesus' acceptance of demoniac possession as a truth, etc.
In commerce it usually denotes temporary financial assistance rendered by one merchant or bank to another. Accommodation paper in cludes notes or bills of exchange .made, ac cepted or indorsed, without any consideration. While in the hands of the party to whom it is made, or for whose benefit the accommodation is given, such paper is open to the defense of want of consideration, but when received by third parties in the usual course of business it is governed by the same rules as other paper (2 Duer, N. Y. 33; 2 Kent, Comm. 86).