ACCENT, in reading or speaking, an inflection of the voice, which gives to each syllable of a word its due pitch in respect of height or lowness. See the article READING, No IV.—The word is originally Latin, accentus: a compound of ad, to; and cane, to sing. Accentus, quasi ad cantus, or juxta cantum. In this sense,
Accent. sense, accent is synonymous with the Greek tonos; the Latin tenor, or tonus; and the Hebrew gustus, taste.—For the doctrine of Accents in Composition, see POETRY, Part II. no 53, 62, 70, 90, —98.