The word doused (IPA: /daʊst/) is spelled with the 'ou' diphthong, which is pronounced like the vowel sound in 'out'. The 's' at the end of the word is pronounced as an unvoiced 's' sound, which is produced by releasing air through the mouth without engaging the vocal cords. The word means to extinguish or soak thoroughly in liquid, and is commonly used in reference to putting out a fire or drenching something with water.
Doused is a verb that refers to the act of pouring or drenching something thoroughly with a liquid. This action typically encompasses covering or soaking an object or person with a substantial amount of liquid, particularly water. When something is doused, it implies that it has been completely wet or saturated.
The term is commonly used in situations where rapid extinguishing or cooling is necessary. For instance, if a fire needs to be put out quickly, firefighters may douse it with water by directing a forceful stream from hoses onto the flames. Similarly, if a person is overheating or needs immediate relief from heat, they might douse themselves with water to rapidly cool down their body temperature.
Another context in which the word is used is in reference to adding liquid to food or beverages. For instance, a recipe might require dousing a dish with a sauce or adding a generous amount of dressing to a salad. In this sense, dousing adds moisture or flavor to enhance the taste and texture of the food.
Overall, to douse something means to thoroughly wet, saturate, or soak it with a liquid, often involving the act of pouring. It is a term commonly used in situations that require immediate extinguishing, cooling, or the addition of liquid for various purposes.
* 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 "doused" comes from the Middle English word "dowsen" or "dowse", which meant to plunge or immerse. This Middle English term is believed to have been derived from the Old Norse word "dúsa", meaning to plunge or sink into water.