The phrase "not infrequently" is commonly used to express the frequency of an event. It is pronounced /nɑt ɪnˈfrikwəntli/ and spelled with the prefix "not" and the adverb "infrequently". The "i" in "not" is pronounced like the "i" in "bit" and the "o" in "infrequently" is pronounced like the "o" in "lot". The stress falls on the second syllable of "infrequently". The correct spelling of this phrase is important in formal writing as it conveys the intended meaning clearly.
The phrase "not infrequently" is an idiomatic expression that denotes a certain level of occurrence or frequency. It is typically used in contexts where something happens fairly often, though not excessively or constantly.
The term can be broken down into two parts: "not" and "infrequently." "Not" is a negating adverb that indicates the absence or lack of something, while "infrequently" is an adverb that describes something occurring rarely or not often. Therefore, when combined, "not infrequently" expresses the idea that an event or action occurs with some regularity, but not commonly or frequently.
This phrase is often used in a variety of situations to indicate that a particular occurrence is relatively common, though it is not considered an everyday or commonplace event. It suggests that while the event may not happen all the time, it is not rare or unusual either. For instance, one might say, "Not infrequently, I find myself running into old acquaintances in unexpected places," meaning that this situation happens often enough to be noteworthy, but it is not an everyday occurrence.
In summary, the term "not infrequently" denotes a moderate level of occurrence, suggesting that while something does not happen constantly or frequently, it is not rare either.
The word not infrequently is a phrase formed by combining two words: not and infrequently.
The word infrequent is an adjective that means not occurring often or rare. It originated from the Latin word infrequens, which is a combination of in- (meaning not) and frequens (meaning frequent).
The addition of not to infrequently adds a negative sense to the word, intensifying its meaning. So, not infrequently means not occurring rarely or, in other words, sometimes or fairly often.