v. Also -ise. [f. EMPHAS-IS + -IZE.] trans. To impart emphasis to (anything); to lay stress upon (a word or phrase in speaking); to add force to (speech, arguments, actions, etc.); to lay stress upon, bring into special prominence (a fact, idea, feature in a representation, etc.).
1828. in Webster.
1842. Thackeray, Fitz-Boodle’s Conf., Misc. Works IV. 18. My conversion made some noise in the county, being emphasised as it were by this fact of the fish.
1845. Dickens, Cricket on Hearth, iii. (Househ. ed.), 106. This philanthropic wish Miss Slowboy emphasized with various new raps and kicks at the door.
1855. W. A. Nicholls, Nat. Draw. Master, 8. Accustoming the hand to emphasize strokes in every possible variety of manner.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iii. 44. Gesticulation goes along with speech, to explain and emphasize it, among all mankind.
1869. Ouseley, Counterp., xix. 156. When the change to the tonic, or dominant … is emphasized … by a longer note than the rest.
1871. Browning, Pr. Hohenst., 432. The Present with … Its indistinctness emphasized.
1882. W. D. Howells, in Longm. Mag., I. 45. The spruces and firs … emphasise the nakedness of all the other trees in winter.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. iv. 215. The emphasis of phrases may remain, but the point emphasised has been blunted.
Hence Emphasized ppl. a.
1855. W. A. Nicholls, Nat. Draw. Master, 8. The production of emphasized strokes.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, II. 884. And talked with measured, emphasised reserve.
