The word "alarmed" is spelled with the following IPA phonetic transcription /əˈlɑːmd/. The first syllable is pronounced as the neutral vowel schwa /ə/, followed by the stressed long "a" sound /ɑː/. The ending syllable is pronounced with the voiced consonant "l" /l/ and the unvoiced "m" sound /m/. This phonetic transcription explains why the "a" in "alarmed" is pronounced as a long "a" sound, while the "l" and "m" sounds in the word are differentiated in its spelling.
Alarmed, as an adjective, with its origin from the Old French word "alarmer," is commonly used to describe a state of distress, anxiety, or fear experienced by an individual in response to a sudden or unexpected event. It pertains to feeling troubled or frightened due to an actual or perceived danger, threat, or perilous situation. When someone is alarmed, they may display visible signs of agitation or unease, such as heightened alertness, increased heart rate, sweating, or trembling.
The term can also refer to an object or system designed to emit a warning or signal when a certain condition or event occurs. For instance, a smoke alarm is a safety device that produces a loud, piercing sound to notify occupants of the presence of smoke or fire in the surrounding area, allowing them to promptly take necessary action. Additionally, an alarm clock is a device that emits an audible or visual signal to awaken or alert someone at a designated time.
Moreover, "alarmed" can describe a state of surprise or concern resulting from a suspicion or realization about an unfavorable or undesirable outcome. This could be observed in phrases like "I was alarmed to learn about the rising crime rate in my neighborhood," indicating a sense of worry or apprehension.
Overall, the term "alarmed" encompasses an emotional or cognitive state of distress or concern, as well as objects or systems designed to sound a warning signal.
* 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 "alarmed" originated from the Middle French term "al(a)rmé". This French word was formed by combining the prefix "a-" (meaning "to") with the noun "arme" (meaning "weapon"), which in turn came from the Latin word "arma". Therefore, the word "alarmed" originally meant "equipped with weapons" or "ready for battle". Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to a state of fear, unease, or concern about a specific situation.