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Accent   /əksˈɛnt/  /ˈæksˌɛnt/   Listen
noun
Accent  n.  
1.
A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others. Note: Many English words have two accents, the primary and the secondary; the primary being uttered with a greater stress of voice than the secondary; as in as´pira´tion, where the chief stress is on the third syllable, and a slighter stress on the first. Some words, as an´tiap´o-plec´tic, in-com´pre-hen´si-bil´i-ty, have two secondary accents.
2.
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. Note: In the ancient Greek the acute accent (´) meant a raised tone or pitch, the grave (`), the level tone or simply the negation of accent, the circumflex ( ~ or ^) a tone raised and then depressed. In works on elocution, the first is often used to denote the rising inflection of the voice; the second, the falling inflection; and the third (^), the compound or waving inflection. In dictionaries, spelling books, and the like, the acute accent is used to designate the syllable which receives the chief stress of voice.
3.
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. "Beguiled you in a plain accent." "A perfect accent." "The tender accent of a woman's cry."
4.
A word; a significant tone; (plural) Expressions in general; speech. "Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear, Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear."
5.
(Pros.) Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
6.
(Mus.)
(a)
A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
(b)
A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.
(c)
The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.
(d)
The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage.
7.
(Math.)
(a)
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".
(b)
(Trigon.) 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.
(c)
(Engin.) A mark used to denote feet and inches; as, 6´ 10" is six feet ten inches.


verb
Accent  v. t.  (past & past part. accented; pres. part. accenting)  
1.
To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent.
2.
To mark emphatically; to emphasize.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Accent" Quotes from Famous Books



... politicians say, they were "feeling out" popular sentiment, they need no longer doubt what it was. Columns of vituperation appeared in the anti-German newspapers, crowds began to form and shout in the streets. "Traditore," hissed with every accent of hate and scorn, filled the air. Giolitti's life was seriously in danger—or the Government preferred to think so. The great apartment house on the Via Cavour in which he lived was cordoned off by double lines of troops. Cavalry kept guard, ...
— The World Decision • Robert Herrick
... wondering who on earth the man that I was sitting in the dark with was—it was so unfortunate! You know Francis thinks we've all spoiled Jim, always, and he looked right over him. I said, 'Francis, you remember my brother?' and Francis said, with a really insulting accent, 'Perfectly!' Jim said something about liking London and hoping to settle there, and Francis said, 'Studdiford, I'm glad you've come to see my wife, and I hope the affection you two have felt for years won't ...
— The Story Of Julia Page - Works of Kathleen Norris, Volume V. • Kathleen Norris
... from Cordova. Being destitute he went up to a monastery beside the road, knocked at the gate, and begged for a piece of bread for his little son Diego, whom he held by the hand. While he was talking to the porter the prior came by, listened to his words, perceived by his accent that he came from Italy, and enquired into his story and his aims. The prior was a learned and benevolent man, and entered warmly into the plans of the Italian mariner, perceiving that such an opportunity of acquiring lands in eastern Asia should not be lost to Spain. He accordingly wrote ...
— From Pole to Pole - A Book for Young People • Sven Anders Hedin
... the drink put forth his hand; Blood drawed his knife, with accent bland, "I ax yer parding, Mister Phinn— Jest ...
— The Wit and Humor of America, Volume IX (of X) • Various
... were written little more than a year before Peel undertook, as Minister of the Crown, to introduce a measure of Catholic emancipation. But if they do little credit to his prescience, no one can mistake the accent of ...
— Historical and Political Essays • William Edward Hartpole Lecky


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