The word "absolutely" is spelled with 4 syllables: /ˈæb.sə.luːt.li/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "a" sound, followed by a "b" and "s" sound in the second syllable. The third syllable is pronounced with a long "u" sound and a "t" sound, while the final syllable has a short "i" sound. It is important to note that the "o" in "ab" is not pronounced as it often is in words like "about" or "above". Knowing the correct phonetic transcription can help in correctly spelling and pronouncing the word.
Absolutely is an adverb that is commonly used to emphasize the certainty or completeness of a statement or situation. It implies an unequivocal agreement or affirmation. It is derived from the adjective "absolute," which means free from any limitations, restrictions, or conditions. When used as an adverb, "absolutely" strengthens the degree or intensity of an adjective, verb, or another adverb.
In its most common usage, "absolutely" is associated with a positive response or agreement, indicating overwhelming certainty. For instance, if someone were to say, "Are you sure you want to go to the party?" an affirmative response of "Absolutely!" signifies a strong, wholehearted agreement or enthusiasm. It reinforces the idea of complete certainty or resolve.
Additionally, "absolutely" can denote a sense of totality or completeness. For example, if someone claims, "I have absolutely no doubt about her abilities," it expresses complete conviction and lack of ambiguity.
Moreover, "absolutely" can function as an intensifier to accentuate the extremity or magnitude of an action or state. For instance, one might say, "She worked absolutely tirelessly to complete the project," indicating an extraordinarily high level of dedication and effort.
Overall, "absolutely" serves to emphasize certainty, agreement, entirety, and intensity in a variety of contexts, making it a versatile and powerful adverb.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "absolutely" originated from the Latin word "absolutus", which is the past participle of the verb "absolvere". "Absolvere" consists of the prefix "ab-" meaning "from" or "away", and the verb "solvere" meaning "to loosen" or "to release". In Latin, "absolvere" primarily conveyed the idea of freeing someone from an obligation or absolving them of guilt. Over time, this idea evolved into the broader sense of being unconditionally certain or completely unrestricted, which is how "absolutely" is commonly understood in English.