NYT Dictionary

ACCENTUATE

/əkˈsɛn.t͡ʃu.eɪt/
Verbac-CEN-tu-ateac-cen-tu-ate · 4 syllablesGrade 8

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020

Meaning

To pronounce with an accent or vocal stress.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- Proto-Indo-European *kh₂néti Proto-Italic *kanō Latin canō Latin accinō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus ▲ Ancient Greek προσῳδῐ́ᾱ (prosōidĭ́ā)calq. Latin accentus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin accentuō Medieval Latin accentuātusbor. English accentuate First attested in 1731; borrowed from Medieval Latin accentuātus, perfect passive participle of accentuō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin accentus. accent + -u- + -ate.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

accentbetonestressemphasizeemphasisepunctuatebelaborhighlightitalicizeoveraccentuate

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2020.

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