The word "afield" is spelled with an "a" and "field," with the stress on the first syllable. According to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it is transcribed as /əˈfild/. The first syllable is pronounced with the schwa sound, which sounds like "uh." The second syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound, and the "ld" at the end is pronounced as a single syllable. This word means "in the field" or "outdoors," and is often used to describe activities like hunting or camping.
Afield is an adverb commonly used to refer to a physical or metaphorical distance from a specified point, often meaning "away," "off," or "far away." It is often used to denote being in a location different from one's home or usual environment.
In a literal sense, afield describes going or venturing away from a central place or towards unfamiliar territories. For instance, one might set off to explore uncharted lands, travel to remote areas, or embark on a long journey through unfamiliar terrain. In a figurative sense, afield can describe venturing into realms that are not within one's expertise or comfort zone. This can involve delving into unfamiliar subjects, exploring unfamiliar ideas or concepts, or straying from customary beliefs or practices.
Additionally, afield can indicate exploration or investigation extending beyond the expected or usual scope. It suggests expanding one's knowledge, interests, or inquiries beyond the predetermined boundaries. For example, a researcher might go afield in their study by investigating a topic that is not directly related to their central area of expertise.
Overall, afield signifies moving away from a point of reference geographically, metaphorically, intellectually, or experientially. It conveys the notion of exploring, exploring the unknown, or expanding one's horizons beyond conventional limits.
To or in the field.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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 "afield" originated from the combination of two Old English words: "on" (meaning "in" or "into") and "feld" (meaning "field"). In Middle English, these two words combined to form "afield", which was used to describe going into or venturing out into the open fields. Over time, the term expanded its meaning to include going away or abroad. Nowadays, "afield" generally refers to going away, venturing into unfamiliar territory, or exploring beyond one's usual surroundings.