Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Bearing a stress or accent: Refers to a syllable or word that is pronounced with greater emphasis or force in speech.
   • Spoken with a noticeable foreign or regional pronunciation: Describes speech that clearly shows the influence of a different language or dialect.
   • Emphasized or highlighted: Used to indicate that something is given special importance or prominence.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Stress):

  • In the word "record" (verb), the second syllable is accented.
  • The poet used accented syllables to create a specific rhythm.

• Adjective (Pronunciation):

  • He spoke in accented English, revealing his French background.
  • The tour guide's accented speech was charming and easy to understand.

• Adjective (Emphasis):

  • The report accented the need for immediate action.
  • Her presentation accented the positive outcomes of the project.

Advanced Usage

• "Heavily accented": Used to describe speech with a very strong or pronounced foreign or regional pronunciation.

  • She gave directions in heavily accented Italian.

• "Tonic syllable": In linguistics, this is a synonym for the primary accented syllable in a word.

  • In the word "photograph," the first syllable is the tonic or accented syllable.

Variants and Related Words

• Accent (noun): A distinctive way of pronouncing a language; a mark used to indicate stress or a specific sound quality.
  • She has a lovely British accent.
• Accent (verb): To emphasize a particular feature; to pronounce with stress.
  • The decor accents the blue tones in the room.
• Unaccented (adjective): Not bearing a stress or accent.
  • The first syllable in "above" is unaccented.

Synonyms

• Stressed: Emphasized in pronunciation.
• Emphasized: Given special importance or prominence.
• Tonic: Relating to or being the syllable that carries the main stress.

Related Phrases

• To place the accent on: To give emphasis or importance to something.
  • The new policy places the accent on sustainability.

Related Idioms

• In a... accent: Used to specify the type of accent.
  • He told the joke in a perfect Irish accent.

Adjective

1. bearing a stress or accent
   • an iambic foot consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable as in `delay'
2. used of syllables
   • a tonic syllables carries the main stress in a word