The spelling of the word "lavatory" may seem confusing due to its unusual pronunciation. In International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /ˈlævətəri/. The stress falls on the second syllable, which is pronounced as "vuh" instead of "vor", as one may assume from the spelling. The suffix "-atory" is pronounced as "uh-tuh-ree", making the word "lavatory" pronounced as "lav-uh-tuh-ree." Despite its complex pronunciation, the word is commonly used to refer to a bathroom or restroom.
Lavatory is a noun that refers to a room or space, typically found in a household or public setting, used for the purpose of personal hygiene and sanitary activities, such as washing one's hands, face, or body, and for excretion, like urinating or defecating. It is commonly known as a bathroom, restroom, or toilet.
In terms of its structure and fixtures, a lavatory generally contains a sink or basin with faucets for running water, along with a mirror above it for personal grooming. In addition, it often has a toilet or commode, designed for removing bodily waste, and a bathtub or shower for bathing.
The lavatory serves as a private space where individuals can attend to their hygiene needs in comfort and privacy. It plays a vital role in maintaining cleanliness and personal well-being.
The term "lavatory" can also refer to the basin or sink itself, separate from the entire room or space. For instance, one might say, "Please wash your hands in the lavatory," which would mean to use the sink specifically for handwashing purposes.
Overall, lavatory is a widely used and understood term, encompassing various aspects of personal hygiene, cleanliness, and sanitary facilities.
A place for washing; brazen laver, in Scrip. hist., a water-basin placed in the court of the Jewish tabernacle at which the priests washed their hands and feet.
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 "lavatory" comes from the Latin term "lavatorium", which is derived from the verb "lavare", meaning "to wash". In Latin, "lavatorium" was initially used to refer to a place where handwashing or bathing took place. Eventually, the term was narrowed down to specifically denote a room or facility for using the toilet, and this sense has remained in use in English.