accentuate

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
2. Proto-Italic*ad
3. Proto-Italic*ad-
4. Latinad-
5. Proto-Indo-European*keh₂n-
6. Proto-Indo-European*kh₂néti
7. Proto-Italic*kanō
8. Latincanō
9. Latinaccinō
10. Ancient Greekπροσῳδῐ́ᾱ (prosōidĭ́ā)
11. Latinaccentus
12. Latinaccentuō
13. Medieval Latinaccentuātus
14. English todayaccentuate

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.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1865 To bring out distinctly; to make more noticeable or prominent; to emphasize.