The word "loss" is spelled L-O-S-S. The initial consonant sound is /l/, followed by the vowel sound /ɒ/, which is represented by the letter "o". The final consonant sound is also /s/ and is represented by the letter "s". The double "s" spelling indicates that the word has a short vowel sound and not a long one, which can be confusing for learners of English. "Loss" is a commonly used word in English, referring to something that has been lost or a reduction in value or amount.
Loss is a noun that encompasses the state or act of being deprived of something, or the absence or reduction of a particular quality or resource that was previously possessed. It can refer to the act of losing or the condition of no longer having something that was once in one's possession or control. Loss can pertain to a variety of contexts, including personal, emotional, financial, or physical.
In personal and emotional contexts, loss typically refers to the grief or sadness experienced when one is separated from a loved one due to death, break-up, or distance. It may also encompass the feelings of deprivation, emptiness, or disconnection that arise from the loss of a relationship, friendship, or sense of belonging.
Financial loss relates to the reduction or absence of monetary value or assets. This may occur as a result of business failure, investment decline, theft, or other financial setbacks, leading to a decrease in one's wealth or income.
Physical loss denotes the absence or impairment of a body part, organ, or physical function due to injury, illness, or accident, resulting in a diminished physical ability or disability.
Overall, loss embodies the notion of something or someone being taken away or no longer available, and the subsequent impact it has on a person's emotional, financial, or physical well-being.
In life-insurance, a death claim.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Deprivation; destruction; injury; failure; waste; leakage; that which is lost; at a loss, puzzled; perplexed.
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 "loss" originated from the Old English word "los", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "lausa". This, in turn, comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "leu(e)-", meaning "to loosen, divide, separate". Over time, "los" evolved into "loss" in Middle English, retaining its original sense of "separation" or "abandonment". The term eventually acquired its contemporary meaning, referring to the absence or deprivation of something valuable.