Hypertext Webster Gateway: "emphasis"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Emphasis \Em"pha*sis\, n.; pl. {Emphases}. [L., fr. Gr. ?
significance, force of expression, fr. ? to show in,
indicate; ? in + ? to show. See {In}, and {Phase}.]
1. (Rhet.) 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.
The province of emphasis is so much more important
than accent, that the customary seat of the latter
is changed, when the claims of emphasis require it.
--E. Porter.
2. A peculiar impressiveness of expression or weight of
thought; vivid representation, enforcing assent; as, to
dwell on a subject with great emphasis.
External objects stand before us . . . in all the
life and emphasis of extension, figure, and color.
--Sir W.
Hamilton.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
emphasis
n 1: special importance or significance; "the red light gave the
central figure increased emphasis"; "the room was
decorated in shades of gray with distinctive red
accents" [syn: {accent}]
2: intensity or forcefulness of expression: "the vehemence of
his denial"; "his emphasis on civil rights" [syn: {vehemence}]
3: special and significant stress by means of position or
repetition e.g.
4: the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note
(especially with regard to stress or pitch); "he put the
stress on the wrong syllable" [syn: {stress}, {accent}, {accentuation}]
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