Accentuate

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /É™kˈsen.tʃu.eɪt/, /æk.ˈsen.tʃu.ËŒeɪt/

Origin

• First attested in 1731.
• (emphasize) First attested in 1865.
• From Medieval Latin accentuātus, past participle of accentuāre, from accentus.

Full definition of accentuate

Verb

1. (transitive) To pronounce with an accent or vocal stress.
2. (transitive) To bring out distinctly; to make more noticeable or prominent; to emphasize.
• In Bosnia, the struggle between East and West was even more accentuated. - London Times
• 1913, w, Lord Stranleigh Abroad Chapter 5, These were business hours, and a feeling of loneliness crept over him, perhaps germinated by his sight of the illustrated papers, and accentuated by an attempted perusal of them.
3. (transitive) To mark with a written accent.

Synonyms

• betone

Related terms

• accentual
• accentuation