accent

¹ac·cent

verb \ˈak-ˌsent, ak-ˈ\

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

Examples of ACCENT

1. <the town's promotional literature accents its vital role in American history>

Origin of ACCENT

Middle French accenter, from accent intonation, from Latin accentus, from ad- + cantus song — more at chant

First Known Use: 1530

Related to ACCENT

Synonyms: emphasize, accentuate, feature, foreground, highlight, illuminate, play up, point (up), press, punctuate, stress

Antonyms: de-emphasize, play down

Related Words: focus, identify, pinpoint, spotlight; advertise, boost, plug, promote, publicize; overplay

Near Antonyms: tone (down), underemphasize, understate; belittle, discount, disparage, minimize

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Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

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

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