Emphasis
['emfəsɪs] or ['ɛmfəsɪs]
Definition
(noun.) special and significant stress by means of position or repetition e.g..
(noun.) special importance or significance; 'the red light gave the central figure increased emphasis'; 'the room was decorated in shades of grey with distinctive red accents'.
Typed by Essie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A particular stress of utterance, or force of voice, given in reading and speaking to one or more words whose signification the speaker intends to impress specially upon his audience.
(n.) A peculiar impressiveness of expression or weight of thought; vivid representation, enforcing assent; as, to dwell on a subject with great emphasis.
Inputed by Camille
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Stress (on certain words), force of utterance.[2]. Impressiveness, significance, moment, weight.
Inputed by Lilly
Definition
n. stress of the voice on particular words or syllables to make the meaning clear: impressiveness of expression or weight of thought: intensity:—pl. Em′phases (-sēz).—v.t. Em′phasīse to make emphatic.—adjs. Emphat′ic -al uttered with or requiring emphasis: forcible: impressive.—adv. Emphat′ically.—n. Emphat′icalness.
Edited by Ivan
Examples
- But the difference is but one of emphasis; the meaning that is shaded in one set of words is illuminated in the other. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- He has been so unlucky as to lose _your_ friendship, replied Elizabeth with emphasis, and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- Why lay such emphasis on _her_? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- I can hardly tell yet, he said, with emphasis. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- To overcome the difficulty of getting past that monosyllable, I took it from her, and said, repeating it with emphasis, Well! Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- I mean, as to the worth and value of her friend,' Mrs Lammle explained, in a measured voice, and with an emphasis on her last word. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Emphasis is placed upon the devising, adapting, constructing faculties. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Present-day reform lays a great emphasis upon instruments and very little on the skilful use of them. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- The emphasis in school upon this particular tool has, however, its dangers--dangers which are not theoretical but exhibited in practice. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Laying a marked emphasis on most unfortunate as if the words were rather descriptive of his connexion with Mr. Vholes. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- At eight o'clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making his dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and with emphasis. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- She uttered the word with an eager look, and with strong emphasis, and with a weird smile that had a kind of boast in it. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- And you speak of his writing to YOU, said I, repeating his emphasis. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- I was simply for Clym, replied Mrs. Yeobright, with too much emphasis in her earnestness. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- You cannot go beyond it, and, she added with emphasis, you _shall_ not, in my house. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- While geography emphasizes the physical side and history the social, these are only emphases in a common topic, namely, the associated life of men. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
Typed by Kate