Main Entry: em·pha·sis

Pronunciation: \ˈem(p)-fə-səs\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural em·pha·ses \-ˌsēz\

Etymology: Latin, from Greek, exposition, emphasis, from emphainein to indicate, from en- + phainein to show — more at fancy

Date: 1573

1 a : force or intensity of expression that gives impressiveness or importance to something b : a particular prominence given in reading or speaking to one or more words or syllables
2 : special consideration of or stress or insistence on something