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 ( `&thins..