How Do You Spell DESPERATELY?

Pronunciation: [dˈɛspəɹətli] (IPA)

The word "desperately" is spelled as /ˈdɛsp(ə)rətli/. The first syllable is pronounced as "des" with the "e" being pronounced like "eh." The stress falls on the second syllable, which is spelled as "pe" with the "e" being pronounced as a short "uh" sound. The ending "-ately" sounds like "uhht-lee" with the stress falling on the second syllable. Overall, the word is spelled phonetically - each letter corresponds to the sound that it makes in the word.

DESPERATELY Meaning and Definition

  1. Desperately is an adverb that describes a state of extreme urgency, seriousness, or need. It is derived from the word "desperate," which means feeling or showing a sense of despair, hopelessness, or a great desire for something.

    When someone is desperately doing something, they are acting in a manner that showcases their desperation or need for a particular outcome or solution. The adverb emphasizes the intensity and severity of the situation or circumstance.

    Desperately can also describe how something is done or pursued. For example, if someone is desperately seeking employment, it means they are actively and urgently searching for a job, as it is vital for their livelihood or achieving a particular goal.

    Moreover, desperately can be used to describe emotions or feelings, indicating a deep longing or yearning. For instance, if someone desperately loves another person, they have an intense, passionate, and almost desperate need for their love and affection.

    In summary, desperately is an adverb that conveys a sense of extreme urgency, seriousness, or need. Whether it refers to actions, behavior, emotions, or desires, it highlights a profound level of desperation or urgency to attain a particular outcome or fulfill a specific need.

Top Common Misspellings for DESPERATELY *

* 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 DESPERATELY

Etymology of DESPERATELY

The word "desperately" has its origins in the Latin word "desperatus", which is the past participle of the verb "desperare". "Desperare" is a combination of the prefix "de-" (meaning "without") and "sperare" (meaning "hope"). Therefore, the literal meaning of "desperatus" is "without hope" or "hopeless". Over time, this Latin term was borrowed into various Romance languages, including Old French, where it evolved into "desperement" and then Middle English, where it eventually became "desperatly" and then "desperately" in modern English.

Similar spelling words for DESPERATELY

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