'accentuation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'accentuatio', where 'accentus' meant 'song added to speech'.

'accentuatio' transformed into the French word 'accentuation', and eventually became the modern English word 'accentuation'.

Initially, it meant 'the act of adding a song or tone to speech', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'emphasizing or highlighting something'.