The word "lurid" is often misspelled due to its unusual pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of "lurid" is /ˈlʊərɪd/, which means the first syllable is pronounced as "loor" instead of "lure". The word itself means shocking or sensational, often used to describe events or descriptions that are graphic and unpleasant. It has its roots in the Latin word "luridus", meaning pale or dismal. So, if you want to avoid misspelling this word, remember the beginning sounds like "floor".
Lurid is an adjective that is used to describe something that is vividly shocking or sensational and often creates a feeling of disgust or horror. It is often used to portray things that are excessively explicit or disturbing in nature. The word is derived from the Latin word "luridus," which means pale yellow or ghastly in appearance.
When used to describe a color or light, lurid refers to something that is unnaturally bright or very intense, such as a lurid sunset or a lurid flash of lightning. However, its more common usage pertains to descriptions of events, stories, or imagery that are excessively shocking, violent, or gory. This can apply to scenes or descriptions in works of literature, movies, or news reports, where the details that are shared are intentionally disturbing or provocative.
Furthermore, lurid can also describe someone's appearance or behavior that is garish, sensationalized, or overly flamboyant, often in a negative connotation. It suggests that the person is attempting to attract attention through their extravagant or shocking actions, which may be seen as distasteful or inappropriate.
Overall, lurid is a descriptive term that signifies something that is explicit, sensational, or shocking, evoking a strong emotional response of revulsion or horror in those who encounter it.
Gloomy; dismal; having the colours of a tempestuous sky; in bot., of a dingy brown.
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 "lurid" has its origins in the Latin word "luridus", which means "pale yellow" or "ghastly pale". This Latin term is derived from the verb "lurere", meaning "to be pale". Over time, "lurid" developed to describe a sickly or unnatural yellowish or pallid complexion, often associated with death or decay. Eventually, it extended its meaning to describe something that is shocking, sensational, or vividly explicit, especially in relation to descriptions of crimes, scandals, or other disturbing events.