A diacritic – also diacritical mark, diacritical point, diacritical sign from ancient Greek διά ( dia, through) and κρίνω ( krinein, to separate) – is a glyph added to a letter, or basic glyph. The term derives from the Greek διακριτικός ( diakritikós, "distinguishing"). Diacritic is primarily an adjective, though sometimes used as a noun, whereas diacritical is only ever an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute ( ´ ) and grave ( ` ) are often called accents. Diacritical marks may appear above or below a letter, or in some other position such as within the letter or between two letters...
