How Do You Spell HARROWING?

Pronunciation: [hˈaɹə͡ʊɪŋ] (IPA)

Harrowing, /ˈhærəʊɪŋ/, is a word that's commonly used to describe an experience that's extremely distressing, emotionally draining or traumatic. The word is spelled with two r's, reflecting its origin in the Old English word 'hergian'. The word refers to the act of raking or breaking up soil, and originally had connotations of violence and destruction. The spelling of 'harrowing' has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in Middle English, reflecting the word's deep roots in the English language.

HARROWING Meaning and Definition

  1. Harrowing is an adjective that describes an experience or situation that is deeply distressing, unsettling, or traumatizing. The term is often used to depict something that is very difficult to endure or witness, often generating intense feelings of fear, anguish, or pain. The word itself originates from the agricultural tool called a harrow, which is used to break up and level soil, causing lines or furrows on the ground. In a figurative sense, the term "harrowing" carries the connotation of something that similarly penetrates and disturbs the emotional or psychological state of a person.

    A harrowing experience can encompass various scenarios such as surviving a natural disaster, being a witness to acts of violence or cruelty, enduring a personal tragedy, or going through a deeply disturbing event. It suggests that one has faced or witnessed something that leaves a lasting impact and can potentially haunt or disturb the individual. The term is often associated with stories or descriptions that evoke strong emotions in the reader or listener. Harrowing accounts can engender a sense of empathy and compassion in others, as they provide a glimpse into the suffering and anguish experienced by those involved.

  2. • The act or process of drawing a harrow over ploughed land.
    • Acutely distressing; lacerating.

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

Top Common Misspellings for HARROWING *

* 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.

Other Common Misspellings for HARROWING

Etymology of HARROWING

The word "harrowing" comes from the verb "harrow", which has its roots in Old English. In Old English, the verb was "hergian", derived from the noun "hearg", meaning "harrow" or "rake". The noun "hearg" itself is believed to have originated from Germanic roots, likely related to the word "harrowing" as we know it today. Over time, "harrowing" came to be used figuratively to describe intense or distressing experiences, referring to the emotional turmoil one might go through, similar to the way land is churned up and broken by a harrow.

Idioms with the word HARROWING

  • the harrowing of hell The idiom "the harrowing of hell" refers to a concept derived from Christian theology, specifically the belief that following his crucifixion, Jesus descended into hell to rescue the souls of the righteous who had died before his resurrection. This event is often portrayed in Christian art and literature and symbolizes the triumph of Jesus over death and the redemption of souls. The idiom can be used metaphorically to describe any triumphant or extraordinary feat.
  • harrowing experience The idiom "harrowing experience" refers to an extremely distressing or traumatic event or ordeal that puts someone through great emotional or physical hardship. It implies a deep and lasting impact, often leaving a person feeling deeply disturbed or shaken.

Similar spelling words for HARROWING

Conjugate verb Harrowing

CONDITIONAL

I would harrow
we would harrow
you would harrow
he/she/it would harrow
they would harrow

FUTURE

I will harrow
we will harrow
you will harrow
he/she/it will harrow
they will harrow

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have harrowed
we will have harrowed
you will have harrowed
he/she/it will have harrowed
they will have harrowed

PAST

I harrowed
we harrowed
you harrowed
he/she/it harrowed
they harrowed

PAST PERFECT

I had harrowed
we had harrowed
you had harrowed
he/she/it had harrowed
they had harrowed

PRESENT

I harrow
we harrow
you harrow
he/she/it harrows
they harrow

PRESENT PERFECT

I have harrowed
we have harrowed
you have harrowed
he/she/it has harrowed
they have harrowed
I am harrowing
we are harrowing
you are harrowing
he/she/it is harrowing
they are harrowing
I was harrowing
we were harrowing
you were harrowing
he/she/it was harrowing
they were harrowing
I will be harrowing
we will be harrowing
you will be harrowing
he/she/it will be harrowing
they will be harrowing
I have been harrowing
we have been harrowing
you have been harrowing
he/she/it has been harrowing
they have been harrowing
I had been harrowing
we had been harrowing
you had been harrowing
he/she/it had been harrowing
they had been harrowing
I will have been harrowing
we will have been harrowing
you will have been harrowing
he/she/it will have been harrowing
they will have been harrowing
I would have harrowed
we would have harrowed
you would have harrowed
he/she/it would have harrowed
they would have harrowed
I would be harrowing
we would be harrowing
you would be harrowing
he/she/it would be harrowing
they would be harrowing
I would have been harrowing
we would have been harrowing
you would have been harrowing
he/she/it would have been harrowing
they would have been harrowing

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