Present participle of emphasize; giving special importance, weight, or prominence to something in speech, writing, or action.
From Greek emphasis meaning 'appearance, show' or 'significance,' derived from emphainein (to show, display). The word entered English in the 18th century, originally used in rhetoric to describe forceful expression.
The Greek root 'phainein' (to show) also gave us 'phenomenon,' 'fantasy,' and 'phantom' - all related to appearance and visibility. Originally, emphasis in Greek rhetoric referred specifically to the implied meaning beyond the literal words, making the concept more sophisticated than simple stress.
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