* Base: "accent" (noun)
* Suffix: "-uate" (verb-forming suffix)
This structure indicates that "accentuate" is a verb derived from the noun "accent," meaning "to emphasize" or "to make more prominent."
Here's a breakdown:
* accent - the root word, referring to a distinctive feature in pronunciation or to something that gives emphasis.
* -uate - a suffix added to nouns or adjectives to create verbs, signifying "to make" or "to cause to be."
Therefore, "accentuate" literally means "to make something an accent" or "to cause something to be accented."