The spelling for the word "bastards" is not the most intuitive. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /ˈbæstərdz/. The reason why it's confusing is that the "ar" sound, which is usually spelled with "ar" or "er," in this case is spelled with an "a" and "st." This can create a bit of confusion when attempting to pronounce it correctly. Nevertheless, familiarizing oneself with the IPA phonetic transcription can make it easier to memorize the spelling and say "bastards" with confidence.
Bastards is a term that primarily refers to individuals whose parents are not married to each other at the time of their birth. Historically, this term has been used to describe children born out of wedlock or those with unknown parentage. It generally carries a negative connotation which reflects society's moral and social attitudes towards such individuals. However, it is worth noting that social perceptions and attitudes have evolved over time, and the usage and connotations of this term may vary in different cultural, social, and historical contexts.
In a broader sense, "bastards" can also be used metaphorically or colloquially to describe people or things that are considered unpleasant, dishonest, or objectionable in some way. This can extend beyond its original definition as referring to illegitimate children and can be applied to various situations in which someone or something is seen as unfavorable, lacking in legitimacy, or not conforming to societal norms.
It is important to note that the term "bastards" can be considered offensive and derogatory if used pejoratively to insult or belittle someone. In modern usage, it is generally recommended to exercise caution and sensitivity when using this term, especially in a personal or disrespectful manner, as it may offend or upset individuals.
* 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 "bastards" has a complex etymology that can be traced back to Latin and Old French.
The term originates from the Latin word "bastardus", meaning "illegitimate child" or "child born out of wedlock". It is believed to have first been used in the Late Latin period, referring to a child of mixed race or a child born to a nobleman and his concubine.
During the Middle Ages, the word "bastard" entered Old French as "bastart" or "bâtard". Its meaning expanded to include not only illegitimate children but also someone of mixed blood or a person of lower social status.
From Old French, the word was eventually adopted into Middle English as "bastard", retaining its original meaning.