The word "brunt" (brʌnt) refers to the main force or impact of something. It is spelled with the letters B-R-U-N-T and is pronounced with a short "u" sound and a hard "t" sound at the end. In phonetic transcription, the "br" sound is represented as /br/ with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, followed by the short "u" sound /ʌ/ with the tongue in the mid-lower part of the mouth, and finally the "nt" sound /nt/ formed by the tip of the tongue touching the front teeth.
Brunt is a noun that refers to the main force or impact of something, particularly a negative or adverse event. It signifies the greatest intensity or pressure experienced when facing the consequences of an action or circumstance. When someone bears or takes the brunt of something, they are being directly affected by the most severe or unpleasant aspects of a situation.
The term often implies that the person or entity enduring the brunt is experiencing the hardest part, the weight, or the primary effects of an event or action. The brunt can be physical, emotional, or financial in nature, and it may encompass a wide range of challenges, obstacles, or hardships. It suggests a heavy burden or responsibility often disproportionately borne by an individual or group.
In a war, for instance, civilians living in conflict zones might face the brunt of the fighting, enduring the worst of the violence and destruction. In an economic crisis, the working class may bear the brunt, suffering from job losses, wage reductions, and overall financial difficulties. Similarly, the consequences of climate change are often felt by the most vulnerable communities who bear the brunt of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or droughts.
In summary, brunt represents the concentrated impact or pressure of a negative situation, with those affected facing the harshest or most difficult aspects of an event or circumstance.
The first shock of an onset; the greatest fury of the battle; the force of a blow.
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 "brunt" originated in Old English as "brun" or "brynet". It ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic word "brunjo", which means "a quick blow" or "a rushing" in reference to a sudden impact or force. This Proto-Germanic root is also related to the Old Norse word "bruna", which means "to rush" or "to dash". Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved, giving rise to the modern English term "brunt", which still retains its original meaning of the force or impact felt in the first shock of a conflict or an attack.