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accentuer

to accentuate, to emphasise

verb ahk-sahn-tü-EH Rare
Communication Language

Origin: French accent + -uer, from Latin accentus ('stress, tone')

Also means

to intensify, to increase

Usage Note

Accentuer is used both literally (accentuer une syllabe — to stress a syllable) and figuratively (accentuer les inégalités — to accentuate inequalities). The reflexive s'accentuer is very common and means to intensify or worsen — les tensions s'accentuent ('tensions are increasing'). The noun is l'accentuation and the adjective is accentué.

Examples

"La crise a accentué les inégalités sociales."

Natural Translation

The crisis has accentuated social inequalities.

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