First Known Use: 1530
Dictionary
1accent
verb ac·cent \ˈak-ˌsent, ak-ˈ\
: to give special attention to (something)
: to say (part of a word) with greater stress or force
Full Definition of ACCENT
transitive verb
1
a : to pronounce with accent : stress b : to mark with a written or printed accent
2
: to give prominence to : make more prominent
See accent defined for English-language learners
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Origin of ACCENT
Middle French accenter, from accent intonation, from Latin accentus, from ad- + cantus song — more at chant
Related to ACCENT
- Synonyms
- emphasize, accentuate, feature, foreground, highlight, illuminate, play up, point (up), press, punctuate, stress
- Antonyms
- de-emphasize, play down
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
Rhymes with ACCENT
absent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent
2accent
noun ac·cent \ˈak-ˌsent, chiefly British -sənt\
: a way of pronouncing words that occurs among the people in a particular region or country
: greater stress or force given to a syllable of a word in speech
: a mark (such as ˈ or ˌ) used to show the part of a word that should be given greater stress when it is spoken
Full Definition of ACCENT
1
: an articulative effort giving prominence to one syllable over adjacent syllables; also : the prominence thus given a syllable
2
: a distinctive manner of expression: as a : an individual's distinctive or characteristic inflection, tone, or choice of words —usually used in plural b : a way of speaking typical of a particular group of people and especially of the natives or residents of a region
3
: rhythmically significant stress on the syllables of a verse usually at regular intervals
4
archaic : utterance
5
a : a mark (as ´, `, ˆ) used in writing or printing to indicate a specific sound value, stress, or pitch, to distinguish words otherwise identically spelled, or to indicate that an ordinarily mute vowel should be pronounced b : an accented letter
6
a : greater stress given to one musical tone than to its neighbors b : accent mark 2
7
a : emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition b : an emphasized detail or area; especially : a small detail in sharp contrast with its surroundings c : a substance or object used for emphasis
8
: a mark placed to the right of a letter or number and usually slightly above it: as a : a double prime b : prime
See accent defined for English-language learners
See accent defined for kids
First Known Use of ACCENT
1530
Related to ACCENT
- Synonyms
- emphasis, accentuation, stress, underscoring, weight
- Antonyms
- de-emphasis
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
ACCENTED Defined for Kids
1accent
verb ac·cent \ˈak-ˌsent, ak-ˈsent\
ac·cent·edac·cent·ing
Definition of ACCENT for Kids
1
: to give a greater force or stress
2
: to mark with a written or printed accent
2accent
noun ac·cent \ˈak-ˌsent\
Definition of ACCENT for Kids
1
: a way of pronouncing words shared by the people of a particular country or region
2
: greater stress or force given to a syllable of a word in speaking or to a beat in music
3
: a mark (as ˈ or ˌ) used in writing or printing to show the place of greater stress on a syllable
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