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Visual memory aid for Accent

Accent

A distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).

noun

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Imagine This

People from Texas usually speak with a distinctive "Southern" accent.

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Sounds Like

AK-sent

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Looks Like

A single word; visually resembles the two-word phrase 'a cent'.

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Remember This

Remember that 'accent' refers to pronunciation only and is not the same as dialect, which covers vocabulary and grammar.

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Other Forms

accentedadjective
accentingverb
accentualadjective
accentuationnoun
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Connect With

dialect, pronunciation, emphasis, stress, intonation, articulation

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Note

In SAT contexts, accent often means pronunciation or emphasis on a syllable. Do not confuse with accent marks in writing (diacritics) which serve a different function.

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Study Deeper

Examples
  • Her American accent made it hard for some listeners to understand at first.
  • The director asked him to accent the word 'not' to emphasize sarcasm.
Synonyms
emphasisstressaccentuationemphasizehighlight
Antonyms
de-emphasizeobscureignore
Etymology

From Old French accent, from Latin accentus meaning 'tone, cadence'; from ad- 'toward' + cantus 'song'.

Mnemonic

A CENT: Place a cent on a syllable to mark its importance; an accent highlights the center of a word's meaning.

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