v. [f. med.L. accentuā-re, -ātum, f. accentus: see ACCENT, and -ATE3. Cf. Fr. accentuer.]
1. To pronounce, or distinguish with an accent.
1731. Bailey, Accentuate: to pronounce in reading or speaking according to the accent.
1827. Hare, Guesses at Truth, II. 212. They [the French] never accentuate their words or their feelings: all is in the same key; a cap is charmant, so is Raphael’s Transfiguration.
1880. Paper & Printing Trades Journ., xxx. 7. You will find that he accentuates his words … quite naturally.
2. To mark with the written accent.
1846. T. Wright, Ess. on Mid. Ages, I. i. 9. The [Anglo-Saxon] scribes not only omitted accents, but they often accentuated words wrongly.
3. fig. To mark strongly, emphasize.
1865. Lecky, Rationalism, I. 371. To accentuate strongly the antagonism by which human nature is convulsed.
1875. Hamerton, Intellect. Life, VII. v. 254. His marriage would strongly accentuate the amateur character of his position.
