The word pedestrian, meaning someone who is traveling on foot, is spelled with six letters. It is pronounced /pəˈdɛstriən/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, the second syllable has a short "e" sound. The "d" at the beginning of the second syllable is pronounced with a "t" sound due to assimilation with the following "t" sound in "tri". The final syllable is pronounced with a long "ee" sound followed by an unstressed "ən" sound.
Pedestrian is an adjective and noun describing or referring to a person or object related to walking on foot or pertaining to people walking in general. As an adjective, pedestrian describes something ordinary, commonplace, or lacking excitement or interest. It suggests a lack of creativity or originality, often used to denote anything dull or unremarkable. For example, a pedestrian movie means it is lacking in excitement or innovation.
As a noun, a pedestrian refers to a person who is traveling on foot, typically someone walking along a street or sidewalk. Additionally, it can also refer to someone who is not imaginative or uninventive. In some contexts, the term pedestrian can allude to someone who neglects the rules or dangers of being in a car-dominated environment, hence suggesting someone who is uninteresting or unexceptional.
The term "pedestrian" is rooted in the Latin word "pedester," which means "on foot." It dates back to the 18th century and has been widely used in English literature and everyday language. It has evolved to encompass both literal and metaphorical meanings. Whether used to describe a method of transportation or to characterize something unimpressive, pedestrian remains a versatile word in the English language.
• One who performs a journey on foot; one noted for his powers of walking.
• Performed on foot; walking.
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 "pedestrian" can be traced back to the Latin word "pedestris", which means "pertaining to the foot". It comes from the combination of the Latin words "pes", meaning "foot", and "stare", meaning "to stand". Originally, the term referred to someone traveling on foot, hence the association with walking or being on foot. Over time, the meaning expanded to include someone who is ordinary, common, or lacking in creativity or imagination, similar to the notion of an average person on the street.