The word "missus" is commonly used as a term of address for a married woman in informal settings. The spelling of the word is based on its pronunciation, which is represented as /ˈmɪsɪz/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound, while the second syllable is pronounced with a soft "s" and an unstressed "uh" sound. The spelling retains the original Latin suffix "-us," which is used for nouns and adjectives that indicate male or masculine qualities.
The term "missus" is a noun used to refer to a woman who is married or in a long-term committed relationship with a man. It is a colloquial form of the word "mistress." However, in modern usage, it does not carry the connotation of a woman involved in an extramarital affair.
The word "missus" is primarily used in informal or spoken language, particularly in Australian, British, and Irish English. It is frequently employed as a term of endearment or casual address, similar to "wife" or "partner." This term acknowledges the marital or romantic relationship between the person being referred to and the speaker.
In addition to its usage as a form of address, "missus" can also be found in various idiomatic expressions or phrases. For example, "having a row with the missus" means having an argument or disagreement with one's wife or partner. Similarly, the term may be used in greetings or conversations, such as "How's the missus?" as a way of inquiring about someone's spouse or significant other.
Though it is an informal term, "missus" holds a certain level of affectionate charm or familiarity, and it is typically used in a lighthearted or friendly manner. It is important to recognize the context in which it is used to avoid any unintended offense.
* 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 "missus" has its origins in the Latin word "missus", which means "a sending" or "a dismissal". This Latin word is derived from the verb "mittere", meaning "to send". In English, "missus" was originally used as an abbreviation of the word "mistress" in the 17th century and referred to a woman of authority or the head of a household. Over time, it evolved to become a colloquial term for a wife or female partner.