The spelling of the word "adopted" is quite straightforward when considering its phonetic transcription. It is pronounced /əˈdɒptɪd/ in Received Pronunciation, and /əˈdɑptəd/ in General American. The /ə/ sound at the beginning is called a schwa, which is an unstressed vowel. The following syllable has the long vowel sound /ɒ/ (RP) or /ɑ/ (GenAm), followed by the consonants /p/, /t/, and /d/. The final syllable has the schwa sound again, followed by the consonant /d/.
The term "adopted" is commonly used as both an adjective and a past participle verb in the English language. As an adjective, it refers to something or someone that has been legally taken by an individual or a couple to be part of their family, even though they are not biologically related. This can occur through formal procedures such as legal adoption or informally, when a child is taken under one's care and upbringing. "Adopted" is also applied to animals that have been placed in a new home for nurturing and support.
As a past participle verb, "adopted" indicates the action of legally taking a child or animal into one's family to provide them with care, love, and a stable environment. Adoption often involves a comprehensive process that ensures the eligibility and suitability of prospective parents or caregivers. This process typically includes screening, home visits, background checks, and sometimes even training sessions to prepare individuals for the responsibilities of parenting an adopted child.
The concept of adoption extends beyond familial relations; it can also refer to the acceptance or implementation of new ideas, methods, or practices by a person or organization. In these contexts, "adopted" implies the intentional embracing or integration of something previously unfamiliar or foreign into one's beliefs, customs, or routines.
Overall, whether referring to humans, animals, or the assimilation of innovative concepts, "adopted" signifies the act of taking someone or something under one's wing, providing them with a supportive environment and promoting their well-being.
* 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 adopted originated from the Latin word adoptare, which is a combination of ad- meaning to and optare meaning to choose.