The spelling of the word "measly" may appear peculiar to some, given the discrepancy between its pronunciation and its spelling. The IPA phonetic transcription of "measly" is /ˈmiːzli/. This indicates that the "e" before the "a" is pronounced as a long "e" sound, while the "s" and "l" sounds are blended together. The odd spelling of "measly" can be attributed to historical changes in the English language and its spelling conventions, resulting in a word that sounds quite different from how it looks on the page.
Measly is an adjective used to describe something that is small, inadequate, or lacking in quantity, value, or importance. It refers to an amount, quality, or size that is considered insufficient, disappointing, or contemptible.
When something is described as measly, it often suggests a feeling of dissatisfaction or disappointment due to its insignificance or meager nature. It implies that the quantity, value, or importance of the thing in question is significantly below what is expected, desired, or required. For instance, a person may consider receiving a measly paycheck as an indication of being underpaid or undervalued.
The term can also be used to describe something that is unimportant, trivial, or unworthy of consideration. It denotes a sense of dismissiveness or disdain towards the matter being referred to. For example, if someone dismisses a proposal as a measly attempt, they are suggesting that it is feeble, insignificant, or inconsequential.
Overall, the term "measly" is often used to express disappointment, inadequacy, or lack in various contexts. It conveys a sense of dissatisfaction either with the quantity, quality, size, or importance of something, or with the overall value or significance attributed to it.
Containing the larvae, cysticerci, of Taenia solium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Infected with measles or eruptions, as swine.
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 "measly" traces its origin to the Middle English word "mesel", which means "leprous". This Middle English term comes from the Old English word "mȳsle", which has the same meaning. Ultimately, "measly" can be traced back to the Old High German word "miasal" and the Old Norse word "mȳsul", both related to leprosy or skin diseases. Over time, the meaning of "measly" expanded to refer to anything small, insignificant, or contemptible.