The word "eke" is a four-lettered verb which means to supplement or add to something. Its spelling may seem unusual, but it can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The letter 'e' is pronounced as /iː/ while the letter 'k' is pronounced as /k/. The silent 'e' at the end of the word is used to indicate a long vowel sound, as the letter 'e' would be pronounced as /iː/ rather than /ɛ/ without it. Therefore, the correct IPA transcription for "eke" is /iːk/.
Eke, as a verb, means to obtain or supplement one's income, livelihood, or resources by making an additional effort or by engaging in extra work. It is often used in the context of trying to make ends meet or to improve one's situation, especially when facing financial constraints. The word is derived from the Old English word "ecan," meaning to increase or add, and it has been a part of the English language since the Middle Ages.
The term "eke" can also be used informally to mean just barely, only just, or in addition to something. For example, one might say, "They managed to eke out a living by taking on odd jobs," emphasizing their struggle to survive through various means. Additionally, it can be used in the sense of managing with little resources or making something last longer by stretching its usage.
The expression "to eke out" implies the idea of stretching something as thin as possible to make it last. It is commonly used with resources such as money, time, or supplies. For instance, a person might say, "She had to eke out her savings for several months until she found a new job."
Overall, the word "eke" signifies the act of supplementing or making do with limited resources and is often associated with putting in extra effort to improve one's circumstances.
• To add to; to enlarge; to lengthen; to protract; to spin out.
• Likewise; in addition.
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 "eke" comes from the Old English word "ecan", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "augon". Its meaning in Old English was "also" or "likewise", and it was used as an adverb or conjunction. Over time, the meaning shifted to "in addition" or "besides". Its usage as a verb meaning "to increase", particularly in the sense of adding something extra, also evolved around the 14th century. The word "eke" is quite old and has its roots in Germanic languages that were spoken centuries ago.