Word of the Day

: January 2, 2018

accentuate

verb ak-SEN-shu-wayt

What It Means

: accent, emphasize; also : intensify

accentuate in Context

"But his voice is so singular in aura that nothing appears to be missing.… He hints at the style of a balladeer, or even of a cabaret singer—an effect accentuated by the pointed use of rolled 'r's." — Alexander M. Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2017

"Gradually, television coverage accentuated spectacle; the use of slow motion, instant replay, and pre- and post-game shows turned the football contest into high drama, and heightened attention to the celebrity status of individual players." — USA Today, 1 Sept. 2017

Did You Know?

When you accentuate something, you put an "accent" (or emphasis) on it. So it will come as no surprise to learn that etymologists have traced accentuate back to accentus, the Latin word for accent. Accentus, in turn, combines the prefix ad- with cantus, meaning "song." Other descendants of accentus in English include accent itself, as well as accentual ("of, relating to, or characterized by accent").