emphasis

Where does the word "emphasis" come from? It comes from Greek emphasis, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Emphasis’s story begins in Greek: emphasis meant “a showing, appearance.” A showing or appearance, giving special weight to an idea. It reached English by 1500s as emphasis. In Greek rhetoric, a hint implying more than is said. Today, emphasis means special importance or stress given to something.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient emphasis "a showing, appearance", a showing or appearance, giving special weight to an idea.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s emphasis "special stress or importance given to something", in Greek rhetoric, a hint implying more than is said.