How Do You Spell EYEWATERING?

Pronunciation: [ˈa͡ɪwətəɹɪŋ] (IPA)

The word "eyewatering" refers to something that is extremely strong or unpleasant, causing tears to flow from one's eyes. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˈaɪˌwɔtərɪŋ/. The first syllable is pronounced as "eye" and the second syllable is pronounced as "wotter". The stress is on the first syllable. The ending "-ing" indicates that this is a present participle form of a verb, meaning that it describes an ongoing action.

EYEWATERING Meaning and Definition

1. Eyewatering is an adjective used to describe something that is extremely shocking, surprising, or overwhelming to the point of causing one's eyes to water, either literally or metaphorically. This term is often employed to emphasize the intensity or severity of a certain situation, event, or experience.

   In a literal sense, the term eyewatering refers to something that may trigger tears or cause watering of the eyes due to physical discomfort, pain, or extreme sensitivity. This can be provoked by strong smells, pungent substances, intense light, irritants, allergens, or other external factors. For instance, slicing a potent onion may induce an eyewatering sensation due to the release of a volatile compound.

   Metaphorically, eyewatering is used to describe situations or circumstances that are emotionally distressing, breathtakingly shocking, or profoundly unsettling. It suggests that the intensity or sheer magnitude of the event is so extraordinary that it evokes a strong emotional response, akin to tears. This can encompass a wide range of scenarios, such as witnessing a heart-wrenching scene in a movie, experiencing an exorbitant bill or financial setback, or encountering devastating news that leaves one speechless and deeply affected.

   Overall, eyewatering encapsulates the notion of extreme impact or intensity that is powerful enough to elicit a visceral response, whether through physical discomfort or overwhelming emotions.

Common Misspellings for EYEWATERING

• eye-aatering

Etymology of EYEWATERING

The word "eyewatering" is a compound word formed using the prefix "eye-" and the verb "watering".

The prefix "eye-" refers to the organ of sight or the act of seeing. This prefix is derived from the Old English word "ēage", which has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "augō".

The verb "watering" is derived from the noun "water", which refers to the clear, colorless liquid that is essential for life. The noun "water" comes from the Old English word "wæter", which has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "watōr".

When combined, "eyewatering" refers to something that causes the eyes to produce tears or become watery.