I. ˈak-ˌsent, ak-ˈ transitive verb
Etymology: Middle French accenter, from accent intonation, from Latin accentus, from ad- + cantus song — more at chant
Date: 1530
1.
a. : to pronounce with accent : stress
b. : to mark with a written or printed accent
2. : to give prominence to : make more prominent
II. ˈak-ˌsent, chiefly Brit -sənt noun
Date: 1530
1. : an articulative effort giving prominence to one syllable over adjacent syllables ; also : the prominence thus given a syllable
2. : a distinctive manner of expression: as
a. : an individual's distinctive or characteristic inflection, tone, or choice of words — usually used in plural
b. : a way of speaking typical of a particular group of people and especially of the natives or residents of a region
3. : rhythmically significant stress on the syllables of a verse usually at regular intervals
4. archaic : utterance
5.
a. : a mark (as ´, `, ˆ) used in writing or printing to indicate a specific sound value, stress, or pitch, to distinguish words otherwise identically spelled, or to indicate that an ordinarily mute vowel should be pronounced
b. : an accented letter
6.
a. : greater stress given to one musical tone than to its neighbors
b. : accent mark 2
7.
a. : emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition
b. : an emphasized detail or area ; especially : a small detail in sharp contrast with its surroundings
c. : a substance or object used for emphasis
8. : a mark placed to the right of a letter or number and usually slightly above it: as
a. : a double prime
b. : prime
9. : special concern or attention : emphasis
an accent on youth
• ac·cent·less -ləs adjective