How Do You Spell DOUT?

Pronunciation: [dˈa͡ʊt] (IPA)

The word "dout" may seem strange at first, but it is actually a variation of the word "doubt." The spelling is derived from early Middle English, where the "b" was often pronounced as a "v" sound, similar to the word "love." Therefore, "doubt" was pronounced as "dout." Over time, the spelling evolved to match the modern pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription for "dout" is /daʊt/, where the "ou" represents the "ow" sound and the "t" is pronounced as a hard "t."

DOUT Meaning and Definition

1. Dout, verb:

   1. To extinguish or put out (a fire or light) intentionally, especially by smothering or suffocating it. This action is often carried out by covering the fire or light with a specific material or substance to cut off its oxygen supply, thereby stopping the combustion process. Douting is commonly done with the purpose of ensuring fire safety, preventing accidental fires, or reducing energy consumption when a light source is no longer needed. Example: "After the bonfire, they carefully douted the flames with sand to ensure that no embers were left burning."

   2. To doubt, question, or have reservations about something. This usage of "dout" is less common but can be found in informal or dialectal contexts to convey skepticism, uncertainty, or hesitation towards a particular idea, statement, or belief. It implies a sense of skepticism or disbelief, often demanding further verification or evidence before accepting the truth of a claim. Example: "I strongly dout that he will keep his promise this time, based on his track record of broken commitments."

   3. To hesitate or falter in speech or action. In this sense, "dout" is often used in regional or dialectal English and refers to moments of indecision, confusion, or uncertainty portrayed through verbal or physical behavior. Example: "He started to dout when asked about his alibi, stumbling over his words and avoiding direct answers."

   Note: The term "dout" can have other specific meanings or applications in certain contexts, particularly in relation to the smoking pipe or medieval weaponry, but the 200-word definition provided here focuses on the most common and general usages of the term.

2. To put out; to extinguish.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for DOUT

• douyt
• do8ut
• dou8t
• do7ut
• dou7t
• doutf
• doutg
• dou6t
• dout6
• dou5t
• dout5
• odut
• duot
• ddout
• douut
• doutt
• Douu
• dueut
• d out
• dou t

Etymology of DOUT

The word "dout" is derived from Middle English "dowten" or "douten", which means "to fear, doubt or hesitate". It can be traced back to the Old English word "dūtan" or "dȳtan", meaning "to be fearful or timid". The word "dout" has also been influenced by the Old French word "douter", which has a similar meaning. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word have changed, but its fundamental meaning has remained relatively consistent.

Idioms with the word DOUT

• dout

Conjugate verb Dout

CONDITIONAL

I would dout

you would dout

he/she/it would dout

we would dout

they would dout

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be douting

you would be douting

he/she/it would be douting

we would be douting

they would be douting

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have dout

you would have dout

he/she/it would have dout

we would have dout

they would have dout

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been douting

you would have been douting

he/she/it would have been douting

we would have been douting

they would have been douting

FUTURE

I will dout

you will dout

he/she/it will dout

we will dout

they will dout

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be douting

you will be douting

he/she/it will be douting

we will be douting

they will be douting

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have douted

you will have douted

he/she/it will have douted

we will have douted

they will have douted

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been douting

you will have been douting

he/she/it will have been douting

we will have been douting

they will have been douting

IMPERATIVE

you dout

we let´s dout

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to dout

PAST

I douted

you douted

he/she/it douted

we douted

they douted

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was douting

you were douting

he/she/it was douting

we were douting

they were douting

PAST PARTICIPLE

douted

PAST PERFECT

I had douted

you had douted

he/she/it had douted

we had douted

they had douted

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been douting

you had been douting

he/she/it had been douting

we had been douting

they had been douting

PRESENT

I dout

you dout

he/she/it douts

we dout

they dout

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am douting

you are douting

he/she/it is douting

we are douting

they are douting

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

douting

PRESENT PERFECT

I have douted

you have douted

he/she/it has douted

we have douted

they have douted

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been douting

you have been douting

he/she/it has been douting

we have been douting

they have been douting