The spelling of "expostulate" may seem daunting at first, but it's actually quite simple when you break it down phonetically. The word is pronounced /ɪkˈspɒstʃʊleɪt/ and is made up of five syllables: "ex," "pos," "tu," "late," and the suffix "-ate." The "x" in "ex" is pronounced like a "z," while the "o" in "pos" sounds like a short "o." The "u" in "tu" is pronounced like the "u" in "cut," and the "a" in "late" sounds like a long "a." The suffix "-ate" is pronounced like "ayt."
Expostulate is a verb that refers to the act of earnestly and vehemently objecting or protesting against something. It involves expressing strong disapproval or disagreement with a particular action, decision, or behavior. When expostulating, individuals often use logical arguments, persuasive reasoning, or passionate appeals to try to convince someone to change their course of action or reconsider their views.
The term originates from the Latin word "expostulare," which means to demand or argue. It is commonly used in formal or serious contexts, such as in debates, discussions, or confrontations, where people feel the need to voice their concerns or criticism. Expostulating is often fueled by a sense of moral obligation or a desire to defend one's principles, values, or beliefs.
People may expostulate when they perceive an injustice, an ethical violation, or a dangerous situation. This can happen in personal relationships, work environments, political settings, or public forums. The aim of expostulation is typically to correct or rectify a perceived wrong, to persuade others to reconsider their actions, or to bring about positive change.
In summary, expostulate is a forceful and impassioned act of protesting or objecting to something. It involves using strong arguments, logical reasoning, or emotional appeals to convince others to reassess their actions, decisions, or beliefs.
To reason earnestly with, as on some impropriety of conduct; to remonstrate in a friendly manner.
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 "expostulate" originates from the Latin verb "expostulare", which can be broken down into two parts: "ex", meaning "out" or "thoroughly", and "postulare", meaning "to demand" or "to claim". Therefore, "expostulate" originally meant "to demand or claim thoroughly" or "to protest strongly". Over time, the meaning evolved to its current use, which refers to expressing strong disapproval or objection, typically in a persuasive or argumentative manner.