TONIC ACCENT Definition & Meaning

tonic accent

noun

prominence given to a syllable in speaking, usually due to a change, especially a rise, in pitch.

tonic accent

noun

emphasis imparted to a note by virtue of its having a higher pitch, rather than greater stress or long duration relative to other notes
another term for pitch accent

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of tonic accent¹

First recorded in 1865–70

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I initiated him into the peculiarities and subtle shades of the Russian language, and the difficulties presented by its tonic accent.

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The italics denote where the tonic accent falls.

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On the contrary, no difficulty about the pronunciation of the three French words, admirable, admirer, and admiration; the tonic accent falls on the last sound syllable in every case.

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The Greek accents on Hebrew words always accord, as Hebraists know, with the tonic accent in that language.

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The strong tonic accent of English, which is usually on the first, or root, syllable, brings about a kind of telescoping which makes us very unintelligible to foreigners.

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