Accentor

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əkˈsɛntə/

Definitions

1. A small bird known for its melodious singing, belonging to a specific family of passerine birds
2. A tiny songbird characterized by its distinctive calls and belonging to a particular avian family
3. A diminutive bird recognized for its musical voice, classified within the Prunellidae family

Etymology: The accentor is named for a singing partner. Its Latin ancestor, "accentor," meant "one who sings with another," built from "ad" (to, with) and "cantor" (singer), and "cantor" itself comes from "canere," "to sing." That is a striking name for a bird that is not usually known for duets, and it reflects the older idea that a singer joins in with a voice already raised. The English word looks like "accent" plus the suffix "-or," which is what most readers would assume, but the connection to "accent" is only superficial. The bird's name comes from the Latin "accentor" rather than from the English word for stress or pronunciation, so the resemblance is a coincidence of form.