A smart kind of accent (5)

I believe the answer is:

acute

'kind of accent' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'a smart' is the wordplay.
'smart' becomes 'cute' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'cute'='ACUTE'

(Other definitions for acute that I've seen before include "Sharp; severe" , "Keen; severe" , "Extremely sharp or intense" , "Very perceptive, having sharp mind" , "quick on the uptake" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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