ACCENSI, in antiquity, denotes an inferior order of officers, appointed to attend the Roman magistrates, somewhat in the manner of ushers, sergeants, or tipstaves among us. They were thus called from accire, to send for; one part of their office being to call assemblies of the people, summon parties to appear and answer before the judges, &c.
ACCENSI was also an appellation given to a kind of adjutants, appointed by the tribune to assist each centurion and decurion; in which sense accensus is synonymous with optio. In an ancient inscription, given by Torre, we meet with ACCENSUS EQUITUM ROMANORUM; an office nowhere else heard of. That author suspects it for a corruption; and instead thereof reads, A CENSIBUS.