| accent aigu (´) |
| Definition - The French name for what English speakers call the acute accent. |
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Example - sauté, café, and fiancée |
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Etymology - The word aigu — which means "sharp" or "pointed" in French — ultimately derives from the Latin acūtus, sharp. |
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Oxford English Dictionary - Its first citation (s.v. accent) is from 1611: "Accent aigu: a sharp accent marked thus ´, and much used. …" (Cotgr.,) |