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Accent

//ˈak.sənt// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it. countable, uncountable

    "In the word "careful", the accent is placed on the first syllable."

  2. 2
    a diacritical mark used to indicate stress or placed above a vowel to indicate a special pronunciation wordnet
  3. 3
    Emphasis or importance in general. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "At this hotel, the accent is on luxury."

  4. 4
    the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch) wordnet
  5. 5
    A mark used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress. countable, uncountable
Show 19 more definitions
  1. 6
    distinctive manner of oral expression wordnet
  2. 7
    Any mark used in writing over letters, either in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked, or to distinguish homophones. countable, uncountable

    "The name Cézanne is written with an acute accent."

  3. 8
    the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people wordnet
  4. 9
    Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone. countable, uncountable

    "I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which for my part I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't."

  5. 10
    special importance or significance wordnet
  6. 11
    The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect. countable, uncountable

    "a foreign accent"

  7. 12
    The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.; A manner of pronunciation suggesting that the speaker is from a different region; a foreign accent. countable, informal, proscribed, sometimes, uncountable

    "My professor's accent is so thick that it's difficult to understand her lectures."

  8. 13
    The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.; A distinctive manner of producing a sign language, such as someone who does not normally use a certain sign language might have when using it. countable, uncountable

    "I believe I still retain some of my hearing accent when I use American Sign Language."

  9. 14
    A word; a significant tone or sound. countable, uncountable

    "I heard my landlady's accents attuned to nervous civility, mingling with the mellow tones of a deep masculine voice,"

  10. 15
    Expressions in general; speech. countable, plural, plural-only, uncountable, usually

    "Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear, / Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear."

  11. 16
    Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse. countable, uncountable
  12. 17
    A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure. countable, uncountable
  13. 18
    A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure. countable, uncountable
  14. 19
    A mark used to represent this special emphasis. countable, uncountable
  15. 20
    The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period. countable, uncountable
  16. 21
    A prime symbol. countable, uncountable
  17. 22
    Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings. countable, uncountable

    "accent color"

  18. 23
    A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery. countable, uncountable
  19. 24
    Utterance. archaic, countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent. transitive
  2. 2
    put stress on; utter with an accent wordnet
  3. 3
    To mark emphatically; to emphasize; to accentuate; to make prominent. transitive
  4. 4
    to stress, single out as important wordnet
  5. 5
    To mark with written accents. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English accent, from Medieval Latin accentus and Old French accent, acent, both from Latin accentus, past participle of accinō (“sing to, sing along”). The word accent had been borrowed into Old English already, but was lost and reborrowed in Middle English.

Etymology 2

From Middle French accenter, from Old French accenter, from Latin accentō, from accentus.

See also for "accent"

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