adj. 1. Expressed or performed with emphasis: responded with an emphatic "no." 2. Forceful and definite in expression or action. 3. Standing out in a striking and clearly defined way. 4. Linguistics Pharyngealized, velarized, or ejective. Used of consonants in Semitic languages. [Medieval Latin emphaticus, from Greek emphatikos, from emphainein, to exhibit, display; see EMPHASIS.] em·phati·cal·ly adv. |
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