emphasis: [16] In Greek, émphasis originally meant simply ‘appearance’. It was a derivative of emphaínein ‘exhibit, indicate’, a compound verb formed from the prefix en- ‘in’ and phaínein ‘show’ (source of English phase). It came to be used as a grammatical term denoting ‘implication’ (as opposed to ‘directly expressed meaning’) and passed in this sense via Latin emphasis into English. Its main modern use, ‘special importance placed on something’, derives from the stressing of a particular word or phrase in speech to show that it is intended to imply something other than its literal meaning might seem to suggest. => phase
1570s, "intensity of expression," from Latin emphasis, from Greek emphasis "an appearing in, outward appearance;" in rhetoric, "significance, indirect meaning," from emphainein "to present, exhibit, display, let (a thing) be seen; be reflected (in a mirror), become visible," from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + phainein "to show" (see phantasm). In Greek and Latin, originally a figure of expression implying more than would ordinarily be meant by the words, it developed a sense of "extra stress" given to a word or phrase in speech as a clue that it implies something more than literal meaning. In pure Latin, significatio.
双语例句
1. The emphasis is on developing fitness through exercises and training.
重点在于通过锻炼促进健康。
来自柯林斯例句
2. His voice was angry and he spaced the words for emphasis.
他的声音里透着愤怒，为了强调，他一字一顿。
来自柯林斯例句
3. "I might have known it!" Miss Burnett said with emphasis.
“我早该料到了！”伯内特小姐加重语气说。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Other projects came up and the emphasis of my work altered.
突然来了一些其他的项目，我的工作重点便转移了。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Why the new emphasis on sticks instead of diplomatic carrots?
