The word "entourage" is spelled [ɑ̃.tu.ʁaʒ] in IPA phonetic transcription. The nasalized vowel sound [ɑ̃] is followed by the consonant cluster [tu], which is pronounced as a single sound. The [ʁ] sound is a uvular fricative, produced by vibration of the back of the tongue against the uvula. The final syllable [aʒ] ends with the voiced palato-alveolar affricate [ʒ]. In English, the word is often pronounced as [ahn-tuh-rahzh] or [ahn-tuh-rahj].
The noun "entourage" refers to a group of individuals who accompany or surround a prominent person, typically providing support, assistance, or protection. It is derived from the French word "entourer" meaning "to surround."
In a literal sense, an entourage encompasses a variety of people such as friends, family members, colleagues, personnel, security personnel, assistants, or advisors who surround and are associated with a high-profile figure. The composition of an entourage may differ depending on the person's profession or position, ranging from politicians, celebrities, businessmen, to public figures.
An entourage is often regarded as a symbol of status or influence as it signifies the importance and popularity of the person being accompanied. The members of an entourage serve numerous functions; they might manage the individual's schedule, provide emotional or professional support, handle logistics and arrangements, enhance public image, offer advice, or maintain security.
Furthermore, an entourage can create a sense of exclusivity and power, emphasizing the significance and impact of the person they surround. They may attract attention or admiration themselves due to their connection with the prominent individual. Nevertheless, an entourage can also be viewed critically, as it may be perceived as a display of entitlement or excessive dependence on others.
Overall, an entourage represents the group of individuals surrounding a notable person, serving various roles that contribute to the individual's success, well-being, and overall public persona.
* 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 "entourage" originated from French, wherein it is spelled "entour" (verb: entourer) and means "to surround" or "to encircle". It comes from the Old French word "entour", which has the same meaning. The term was initially used in English in the late 19th century to denote a group of people who surround and accompany someone important, such as a monarch or a celebrity. Over time, "entourage" has become a commonly used word in English to refer to a person's accompanying group or retinue.