The word "outrage" is spelled with the letters "ou" because it originally came from the French word "outrage," which means "excessive violence or injury." In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /aʊt.reɪdʒ/, with the "ou" making an /aʊ/ sound, similar to the word "out." The "rage" part is pronounced as /reɪdʒ/, with the "a" making an /eɪ/ sound and the final "e" being silent. Overall, the spelling of "outrage" reflects its etymology and pronunciation.
Outrage is a noun that refers to a strong and intense feeling of anger, indignation, or fury that is brought about by an action or event that is perceived as unjust, cruel, offensive, or morally wrong. It encompasses a deep sense of outrage and disbelief, often accompanied by passionate condemnation, protests, or outcry against the perceived wrongdoing.
This intense emotional response is typically elicited when an individual or a group feels violated, insulted, or deeply hurt by the actions, statements, or policies of others. Outrage can arise from various contexts, such as social, political, or moral issues, and can also be triggered by personal experiences or injustices.
When someone experiences outrage, they might express their displeasure through vocal criticism, protests, demonstrations, or through social media platforms. Outrage often seeks redress, change, or justice, aiming to provoke awareness, mobilize public opinion, or prompt a response from authorities.
Due to its subjective nature, outrage can vary in intensity and duration, ranging from momentary anger to long-lasting bitterness or resentment. Different individuals may respond to the same circumstance with varying degrees of outrage, influenced by personal values, cultural or societal norms, and individual beliefs.
In conclusion, outrage is a powerful and emotive reaction to injustice, cruelty, or offensive behavior, reflecting a deep sense of anger, indignation, or fury. Through expressing and channeling this outrage, individuals or communities seek to challenge and rectify perceived wrongdoing, often aiming to bring about change, awareness, or justice.
• Open and wanton violence either to a person or thing; excessive injury.
• To treat with extreme violence and injury; to injure by rude rough treatment of anything; to do violence in words.
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 "outrage" originated from the Anglo-Norman French word "outrage,” which came from the Old French term "ultrage". This, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin word "ultrāticum", which means "excessive, beyond measure". The prefix "ultra-" implies something beyond or excessive, while "aticum" signifies a quality. Over time, the term evolved in English to refer to a strong emotional reaction, usually anger or indignation, towards something perceived as unjust, offensive, or morally wrong.