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accent

Definition

  • noun: a way of pronouncing words that occurs among the people in a particular region or country
  • noun: an articulative effort giving prominence to one syllable over adjacent syllables
  • verb: to pronounce with accent
  • verb: to give special attention to (something)
  • usually + 'on'
  • synonyms: stress, tone, word

Examples

  • When you say “before,” you should 'accent' the second syllable. = You should 'accent' the word “before” on the second syllable.

  • The 'accents' in the French word “émigré” show how the letter “e” should be pronounced.

  • His speech 'accented' [='highlighted, emphasized'] positive parts of the plan.

Movie quotes

  • (..) Jimmy Olsen, photographer. Hi. Clark Kent. Nice to meet you. It's got everything: sex, violence, the ethnic angle. So does a lady wrestler with a foreign accent. -Kent, can you open this? -Sure, Mr. White. This could be the basis for a series of articles: "Making Sense of Senseless Killings" (..)
    1978 Superman