accent

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun distinctive manner of oral expression
  2. noun special importance or significance
  3. noun the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English accent, from Medieval Latin accentus and Old French accent, acent, both from Latin accentus, past participle of accinō (“sing to, sing along”), from ad- + canō (“to sing”). The word accent had been borrowed into Old English already, but was lost and reborrowed in Middle English.

In classic literature

Synonyms

speech pattern

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