Comprise is a tricky word to spell. It's spelled with a "c" and not "comprize", which some may assume. The word's IPA phonetic transcription is /kəmˈpraɪz/. This transcription breaking down to the starting sound of "kuh" which is followed by "m" and "pr" sounds respectively, and ending with the "ize" sound, pronounced like "eyes." Comprise means to consist of or include, and it's essential to remember that it's spelled with a "c" in the middle, not an "s".
Comprise is a verb with multiple meanings and can be defined as follows:
1. To consist of or be made up of: This sense of comprise refers to the act of including or containing something as part of a whole. For example, "The United States comprises fifty states," means that the United States is made up of or consists of fifty states.
2. To be composed or constituted of: In this sense, comprise highlights the essential elements or components that make up something. For instance, "A healthy diet comprises fruits, vegetables, and whole grains" denotes that a healthy diet is composed or constituted of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
3. To embrace or encompass: This definition of comprise signifies the act of encompassing or including a wide range of ideas, people, or things. For instance, "The festival comprises various cultural activities such as music, dance, art, and theater" means that the festival embraces or includes a variety of cultural activities.
It is important to note that comprise is commonly misused interchangeably with the word "compose." However, the key difference lies in the perspective: "comprise" emphasizes the whole including the parts, while "compose" highlights the parts that make up the whole.
Overall, comprise is a versatile verb that denotes the act of including, consisting of, being composed of, or encompassing various elements, whether they are concrete objects, abstract concepts, or diverse aspects within a whole.
To include within itself; to comprehend; to contain or embrace.
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 "comprise" originated from the Old French word "compris" (past participle of "comprendre"), which means "to include" or "to understand". This Old French term, in turn, came from the Latin word "comprehendere", which also means "to include" or "to comprehend". The Latin term can be broken down further into "com-" meaning "together" and "prehendere" meaning "to grasp". Therefore, the etymology of "comprise" suggests that it is derived from Latin and French roots, ultimately conveying the idea of including or grasping things together.