adjective
acute
Marked with an accent that slopes upward from left to right.
The French word ends with a vowel bearing an acute accent.
Etymology
Latin acutus meant sharp and also described high pitch. The acute accent takes its name from a pitch distinction it originally marked, with the term then applying to the written sign.
More examples
- She added the acute mark above the letter.
- The keyboard shortcut produced an acute accent.
- The lesson contrasted acute and grave accents.
Forms
acute