accent

²ac·cent

noun \ˈak-ˌsent, chiefly British -sənt\

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

9

: special concern or attention : emphasis <an accent on youth>

— ac·cent·less \-ləs\ adjective

Examples of ACCENT

1. Regional accents are common in the U.S.
2. She spoke with an American accent.
3. The tourist had a foreign accent.
4. He has a heavy southern accent.
5. The word “before” has the accent on the last syllable.
6. Put the accent on the first syllable of the word.
7. The accents in the French word “émigré” show how the letter “e” should be pronounced.

First Known Use of ACCENT

1530

Related to ACCENT

Synonyms: emphasis, accentuation, stress, underscoring, weight

Antonyms: de-emphasis

Related Words: attention, concentration, focus, spotlight; consequence, import, moment, note, significance, value, worth; precedence, primacy, priority, top billing; consideration, heed, regard

Near Antonyms: minimization, underemphasis; disregard, indifference

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Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile