The spelling of "chases away" adheres to typical English phonetics. The "ch" sound at the beginning is pronounced as the voiceless palato-alveolar affricate /tʃ/. The "a" sound is pronounced as the short /æ/ sound. The letter combination "se" is pronounced as the long /eɪ/ diphthong. Finally, the "s" sound before "away" is pronounced as /z/. "Chases away" means to force something or someone to leave, typically through fear or intimidation.
To "chase away" is a phrasal verb that refers to the act of compelling someone or something to leave or go away, typically through pursuit, force, or aggressive actions. This expression conveys the sense of engaging in a determined effort to remove someone or something from a particular place or situation.
In a literal sense, "chasing away" often manifests as an active pursuit or direct chase, where one person or animal tries to dislodge or repel another by means of physical pursuit. For instance, a predator may chase away its prey or a person might chase away an intruder.
Figuratively, "chasing away" can denote the act of driving away unwanted thoughts, emotions, or influences. It often relates to the process of removing negative or unwanted elements from one's mind, body, or environment. For example, one might employ distractions or positive thinking techniques to chase away feelings of sadness or anxiety.
Additionally, "chase away" may be used to describe the action of deterring or repulsing someone or something, typically through forceful or aggressive behavior. It can refer to the act of forcing an unwanted visitor, such as a trespasser or pest, to leave a premises or an unwelcome influence to desist. In such cases, "chasing away" conveys a sense of assertiveness and the establishment of boundaries.
Overall, "chase away" encompasses various situations where the primary purpose is to remove, deter, or repel someone or something from a specific location, state of mind, or circumstance.
The etymology of the phrase "chases away" can be understood by examining the origins of its constituent words: "chase" and "away".
1. Chase:
The word "chase" originates from the Old French verb "chacier", which means "to hunt, pursue, or chase". It derives from the Vulgar Latin word "captiare", which means "to catch or capture". The Middle English form of the word was "chacen", and it eventually evolved into the modern English "chase".
2. Away:
The word "away" is derived from the Middle English term "aweigh", which means "onwards or on one's way". This term is further composed of the Old English prefix "a-" (meaning "on" or "to") and the word "weg" (meaning "way" or "journey"). Gradually, it transformed into the modern English term "away".