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Accent vs Lilt - What's the difference?

accent | lilt |

As nouns the difference between accent and lilt

is that accent is (linguistics) a higher-pitched or stronger articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it while lilt is animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.

As verbs the difference between accent and lilt

is that accent is to express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent while lilt is to do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.

accent

English

(wikipedia accent)

Etymology 1

First attested in the late 14th century. (The "decorative" sense is first attested in 1972.) From (etyl) accent, from (etyl) acent, from (etyl) accentus, formed from ad + with a vowel change.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (linguistics) A higher-pitched or stronger articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.
    • In the word "careful", the accent is placed on the first syllable.
  • (figuratively) Emphasis or importance in general.
    • At this hotel, the accent is on luxury.
  • (orthography) A mark or character used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken accent, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked.
    • The name Cézanne is written with an acute accent .
  • (senseid) Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone.
  • * 1608 , , II-ii
    • I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which for my part I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't.
  • * 1696 , , "From Celia to Damon", in Poems on Several Occasions
    • The tender Accent of a Woman's Cry / Will pass unheard, will unregarded die;
  • (linguistics) The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.
    • a foreign accent'''; an American, British or Australian '''accent
  • A word; a significant tone or sound.
  • (usually, plural only) Expressions in general; speech.
  • * Dryden
    • Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear, / Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear.
  • (prosody, poetry) Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
  • (music) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
  • (music) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.
  • (music) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.
  • (music) The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage.
  • (music) A mark used to represent specific stress on a note.
  • (mathematics) A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y'', '''y .
  • (geometry) A mark at the right hand of a number, indicating minutes of a degree, seconds, etc., as in 12' 27'' , meaning twelve minutes and twenty-seven seconds.
  • (engineering) A mark used to denote feet and inches, as in 6' 10'' , meaning six feet ten inches.
  • Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings.
  • A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery.
  • A distinctive feature or quality.
  • (archaic) Utterance.
    • Derived terms
    * accent mark * acute accent * grave accent * primary accent * secondary accent * tonic accent

    See also

    * circumflex

    References

    * “ Accent, sb.'']” on pages 50–51 of § 1 (A) of volume I (A–B, ed. ?, 1888) of ''[[w:Oxford English Dictionary, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles] (1st ed.) * “ accent, n.''” in the ''Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed., 1989)

    Etymology 2

    From the (etyl) (m), from the (etyl) (m), from the (etyl) , from (m), whence the (etyl) noun (m).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent.
  • To mark emphatically; to emphasize; to accentuate; to make prominent.
  • To mark with written accents.

    • References

    * “ Accent, v.'']” on page 51/3 of § 1 (A) of volume I (A–B, ed. ?, 1888) of ''[[w:Oxford English Dictionary, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles] (1st ed.) * “ accent, v.''” in the ''Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed., 1989) ----

    lilt

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
    • (Wordsworth)
  • To sing cheerfully, especially in Gaelic.
  • To utter with spirit, animation, or gaiety; to sing with spirit and liveliness.
  • * Tennyson
    • A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, / With scraps of thundrous epic lilted out / By violet-hooded doctors.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.
  • A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.
  • A cheerful or melodious accent when speaking.
  • * July 18 2012 , Scott Tobias, AV Club The Dark Knight Rises [http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-dark-knight-rises-review-batman,82624/]
  • *:Though Bane’s sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt , he doesn’t have any of the Joker’s deranged wit, and Nolan isn’t interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment.

    • See also

    * brogue * drawl * lisp * twang (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

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