How Do You Spell INTENSIFIERS?

Pronunciation: [ɪntˈɛnsɪfˌa͡ɪ͡əz] (IPA)

The word "intensifiers" refers to words or phrases that modify or enhance the degree of emphasis placed on another word or phrase. The spelling of this word in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is [ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪəz], where the "i" is pronounced as in "sit," the "e" as in "red," the "a" as in "cat," and the "y" as in "by." The plural ending "-ers" is pronounced as "əz." This word is commonly used in academic discussions of language and communication.

INTENSIFIERS Meaning and Definition

  1. Intensifiers are a grammatical category of words or phrases that are used to enhance or strengthen the meaning of another word or phrase in a sentence. They are used to add emphasis and intensify the degree or quality of something being described or expressed.

    Intensifiers are typically adverbs or adverb phrases that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They are used to express a higher degree, greater extent, or increased intensity of an action, state, or quality.

    Examples of intensifiers include words like "very," "extremely," "highly," "greatly," "quite," "utterly," and phrases like "to a large extent," "to a great degree," "incredibly," "absolutely," and so on.

    These words or phrases can be used to modify positive or negative adjectives, adverbs, or verbs. For example, in the sentence "She is very intelligent," the intensifier "very" enhances the quality of intelligence. Similarly, in the sentence "He is extremely tired," the intensifier "extremely" intensifies the degree of tiredness being expressed.

    Intensifiers play a crucial role in making language more expressive and vivid, allowing speakers or writers to convey nuances of meaning and emphasize certain aspects of their message. However, it's important to use intensifiers judiciously, as overusing them can lead to exaggeration or loss of credibility in communication.

Etymology of INTENSIFIERS

The word "intensifier" is derived from the term "intensify" which originated from the Latin word "intensificare". The Latin term comprises two parts: "intensus", meaning "stretched tight" or "intense", and "facere", meaning "to make". Together, they form "intensificare" which translates to "to make intense" or "to strengthen". This evolution of meaning led to the formation of the noun "intensifier" in English, which refers to words or phrases used to emphasize or intensify the meaning or magnitude of another word or phrase.