Emphases

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  emphasis \em"pha*sis\ ([e^]m"f[.a]*s[i^]s), n.; pl. {Emphases}
     ([e^]m"f[.a]*s[=e]z). [L., fr. Gr. 'e`mfasis significance,
     force of expression, fr. 'emfai`nein to show in, indicate;
     'en in + fai`nein 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A peculiar impressiveness of expression or weight of
        thought; vivid representation, enforcing assent; as, to
        dwell on a subject with great emphasis.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              External objects stand before us . . . in all the
              life and emphasis of extension, figure, and color.
                                                    --Sir W.
                                                    Hamilton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. a special attention given to, or extra importance attached
        to, something; as, a guided tour of Egypt with emphasis on
        the monuments along the Nile.
        [PJC]
  
     4. something to which great importance is attached; as, the
        need for increased spending on education was the emphasis
        of his speech.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  emphases
       See {emphasis}

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [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}]
       [also: {emphases} (pl)]