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accent

noun

  1. phonetic prominence given to a particular syllable in a word, or to a particular word within a phrase
  2. manner of pronunciation peculiar to a particular individual, location, or nation
  3. in poetry, stressed syllable of a polysyllabic word, or a monosyllabic word that receives stress
  4. emphasis placed on a particular musical note
  5. diacritical mark, especially acute, grave, and circumflex
L29427 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to give special attention or prominence to
L29428 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈak.sənt/ / /-sɛnt/ / /ˈæk.sɛnt/ / /ækˈsɛnt/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Medieval Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n-der. Proto-Italic *kanō Medieval Latin canō Medieval Latin accinō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Medieval Latin -tus ▲ Ancient Greek προσῳδῐ́ᾱ (prosōidĭ́ā)calq. Medieval Latin accentusbor. Middle French accentbor. Anglo-Norman accentbor. Middle English accent English accent Inherited from Middle English accent, from Medieval Latin accentus and Old French accent, acent, both from Latin accentus, past participle of accinō (“sing to, sing along”), from ad- + canō (“to sing”). The word accent had been borrowed into Old English already, but was lost and reborrowed in Middle English.

  1. A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.

    In the word "careful", the accent is placed on the first syllable.

  2. Emphasis or importance in general.

    At this hotel, the accent is on luxury.

  3. A mark used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress.
  4. Any mark used in writing over letters, either in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked, or to distinguish homophones.

    The name Cézanne is written with an acute accent.

    California, like several other states, prohibits the use of diacritical marks or accents on official documents. That means no tilde (~), no accent grave (`), no umlaut (¨) and certainly no cedilla (¸).

  5. Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone.

    I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which for my part I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't.

    The tender Accents of a Woman’s Cry ¶ Will paſs unheard, will unregarded die;

  6. The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.

    a foreign accent

    a broad Irish accent

  7. The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.

    My professor's accent is so thick that it's difficult to understand her lectures.

    She spoke with a strong accent that betrayed her southern roots.

  8. The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.

    I believe I still retain some of my hearing accent when I use American Sign Language.

    Cheesesteaks, Peanut Chews, Tastykakes, oh yeah, the Liberty Bell — there's so much to love about Philadelphia, but one of the best things about the city of Brotherly Love is the accent. We're not talking about spoken English — we're talking about American Sign Language.

  9. A word; a significant tone or sound.

    I heard my landlady's accents attuned to nervous civility, mingling with the mellow tones of a deep masculine voice,

  10. Expressions in general; speech.

    Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear, / Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear.

  11. Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
  12. A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
  13. A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.
  14. A mark used to represent this special emphasis.
  15. The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.
  16. A prime symbol.
  17. Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings.

    accent color

  18. A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery.
  19. Utterance.

verb

Etymology: From Middle French accenter, from Old French accenter, from Latin accentō, from accentus.

  1. To express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent.
  2. To mark emphatically; to emphasize; to accentuate; to make prominent.
  3. To mark with written accents.