CONTRACTION Meaning and
Definition
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A contraction is a grammatical term referring to the shortened form of a word or phrase created by combining two or more words by omitting certain letters or sounds and replacing them with an apostrophe. Contractions are commonly used in English to simplify speech and writing, as well as to convey a more informal or casual tone.
In the English language, contractions often involve the omission of one or more letters from the middle of a word. For example, the contraction "can't" is formed by removing the letter "o" from the word "cannot." Similarly, the contraction "won't" is a shortened form of "will not," and "I'm" is a contraction of "I am."
Contractions have several functions, including indicating possession (such as "Mary's" for "Mary is" or "Mary has") or expressing negation (like "isn't" for "is not" or "haven't" for "have not"). Contractions are prevalent in informal speech, writing, and colloquial language, and can be found across various regions and dialects.
While contractions are common and accepted in everyday communication, their usage may vary in formal contexts, such as academic or professional writing. In such cases, it is generally recommended to use the full forms of words rather than contractions, as it helps maintain a more formal tone and style.
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• Arteriostenosis, arteriarctia.
• 1. A shortening, noting the normal function of muscular tissue. 2. A more or less permanent shortening of a muscle. 3. A shrinkage or reduction in size.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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The act of drawing together or shortening; the thing shortened or reduced.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for CONTRACTION *
* 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.
Other Common Misspellings for CONTRACTION
Etymology of CONTRACTION
The word "contraction" originates from the Latin term "contractio", which is derived from the verb "contractus" (past participle of "contrahere"). In Latin, "con" means "together" and "trahere" means "to draw". Therefore, "contractio" can be translated as "a drawing together". The term was first recorded in English around the 15th century, where it was commonly used in the medical sense to describe the shortening or tightening of muscles. Over time, the word's usage extended beyond the medical field to refer to various types of shortening or reduction.
Similar spelling words for CONTRACTION
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- contractile.
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