Word: accent Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n-der. Proto-Italic *kanō Latin canō Latin accinō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus ▲ Ancient Greek προσῳδῐ́ᾱ (prosōidĭ́ā)calq. Medieval Latin accentusbor. Middle French accentbor. Anglo-Norman accentbor. Middle English accent English accent Inherited 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”), from ad- + canō (“to sing”). The word accent had been borrowed into Old English already, but was lost and reborrowed in Middle English. Pronunciation: /ˈak.sənt/, /-sɛnt/, /ˈæk.sɛnt/, /-sənt/, /ˈɛk.sent/ 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. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: In the word "careful", the accent is placed on the first syllable. 2. Emphasis or importance in general. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: At this hotel, the accent is on luxury. 3. A mark used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress. Labels: countable, uncountable 4. 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. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The name Cézanne is written with an acute accent. Example: California, like several other states, prohibits the use of diacritical marks or accents on official documents. That means no tilde (~), no accent grave (`), no umlaut (¨) and certainly no cedilla (¸). 5. Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 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. Example: The tender Accents of a Woman’s Cry ¶ Will paſs unheard, will unregarded die; 6. 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. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a foreign accent Example: a broad Irish accent 7. 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. Labels: countable, informal, proscribed, sometimes, uncountable Example: My professor's accent is so thick that it's difficult to understand her lectures. Example: She spoke with a strong accent that betrayed her southern roots. 8. 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. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I believe I still retain some of my hearing accent when I use American Sign Language. Example: Cheesesteaks, Peanut Chews, Tastykakes, oh yeah, the Liberty Bell — there's so much to love about Philadelphia, but one of the best things about the city of Brotherly Love is the accent. We're not talking about spoken English — we're talking about American Sign Language. 9. A word; a significant tone or sound. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I heard my landlady's accents attuned to nervous civility, mingling with the mellow tones of a deep masculine voice, 10. Expressions in general; speech. Labels: countable, plural, plural-only, uncountable, usually Example: Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear, / Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear. 11. Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse. Labels: countable, uncountable 12. A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure. Labels: countable, uncountable 13. A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure. Labels: countable, uncountable 14. A mark used to represent this special emphasis. Labels: countable, uncountable 15. The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period. Labels: countable, uncountable 16. A prime symbol. Labels: countable, uncountable 17. Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: accent color 18. A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery. Labels: countable, uncountable 19. Utterance. Labels: archaic, countable, uncountable