Word Definition

Accent

  1. A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.
  2. To mark emphatically; to emphasize.
  3. The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.
  4. A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
  5. A mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents.
  6. A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.
  7. Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
  8. A mark used to denote feet and inches; as, 6' 10'' is six feet ten inches.
  9. A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y', y''.
  10. The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage.
  11. To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent.
  12. A word; a significant tone
  13. A mark at the right hand of a number, indicating minutes of a degree, seconds, etc.; as, 12'27'', i. e., twelve minutes twenty seven seconds.
  14. Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent.
  15. expressions in general; speech.